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African countries urged to go green

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has tipped countries on the continent to embark on adopting green pathways for sustainable economic growth.

ECA is supporting the African Union Commission (AUC) in finalising the African Climate Change Strategy (2020-2030).

Speaking during 7th Session of the African Regional Forum for Sustainable Development (ARFSD2021) on Tuesday, James Murombedzi of the ECA’s African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC), said the African Climate Change Strategy 2020-2030 is designed to be a framework to guide climate actions in member States towards low carbon emissions development.

He said. “The continent must embark on adopting green pathways for economic growth. This is necessary as climate change is disruptive on national economies, ecosystems and livelihoods.”

Murombedzi, who made a keynote presentation at the Climate Action forum, noted that climate change was directly impacting on Africa’s ability to realize sustainable development goals (SDGs) and Africa’s development framework as envisaged in Agenda 2063.

He went on to enumerate on some of the challenges to be addressed to cushion the continent from adverse climate effects, including integrating climate information services into the continent’s development processes, engagement of all stakeholders, securing adequate means to implementation for transition into low emissions pathways and ensuring major emitters step up their climate ambitions.

Murombedzi also urged the continent to adopt climate smart interventions, which will generate decent and sustainable green and blue jobs. 

His sentiments come in the wake of the ECA’s launch on Monday of the Building Forward for an African Green Recovery Report.

The report provides an evidence-based roadmap for the continent to embrace clean energy sources as a recovery pathway in post-Covid-19 continental build forward better strategy.

Speaking at the same forum, James Kinyangi of the African Development Bank (AfDB) noted that the multilateral development bank was going to double its climate finance of $12.5billion in its 2016-2020 timeframe to $25 billion in the period 2021-2025.

According to him, the AfDB is opening up several financing portfolios to ensure Africa’s low-carbon and climate resilient development ambitions are adequately boosted.

Climate financing and digitization of climate information systems as well as access in the continent featured prominently during the hybrid conference which took place in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo from 1 to 4 March.

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