- At the conference, there was a strong call for Africa to adopt innovative technologies to tackle what speakers described as ‘the looming climate change threat’ to the continent.
- While COP27 in Egypt did not achieve the drastic reduction in emissions that the world needs, it did see the establishment of funding arrangements for loss and damage.
The 2022 African Economic Conference (AEC) took place on the island nation of Mauritius. At the conference, there was a strong call for Africa to adopt innovative technologies to tackle what speakers described as ‘the looming climate change threat’ to the continent. At the conference opening, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius, said “Supporting climate-smart development in Africa is extremely pertinent. Climate change is a looming threat to Africa. The continent is the most vulnerable region to climate disasters”. He stressed that the rise in petroleum prices caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine war should quicken Africa’s motivation to shift away from fossil fuels and become self-sufficient in electricity production.
During COP27, the African Development Bank and its partners launched the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa to speed up the development of green infrastructure in Africa. The Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at the United Nations Development Program, Ahunna Eziakonwa, emphasised that Africa’s path to attaining Sustainable Development Goals must be climate smart. Ahunna said, “Protecting the planet cannot be an option; it is an urgent priority. While COP27 in Egypt did not achieve the drastic reduction in emissions that the world needs, it did see the establishment of funding arrangements for loss and damage.”
Ahunna told participants about a new partnership between the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development Programme, the African Development Bank, and the Rocky Mountain Institute. Together they will support new solar battery mini-grid markets in 21 countries in Africa. Also, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Dr. Hanan Morsy said, “Africa needs to close huge development gaps by investing substantially in key sectors such as energy, agriculture, transport, water, and cities, among others. These sectors are all very vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change,” Morsy said.