African Economic Conference 2022 urges development community to “speak up” on innovative solutions to fight climate change | African Development Bank

The 17th African Economic Conference ended on Sunday with a call for the development community and governments to take decisive action to tackle climate change.

The African Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations Development Programme, the hosts of the conference, called on the participants to speak out by devising concrete solutions for climate-smart development on the continent.

Participants argued that achieving net zero emissions – the core of the three-day conference – can be achieved with strong involvement of all stakeholders, including creating the right environment for public-private partnerships.

“Africa is the region most vulnerable in the face of climate change,” said Mauritius Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Renganaden Padayachy. The scourge of climate change threatens lives, he warned.

“And if we limit climate change, we will change lives,” he said at the close of the three-day conference, which was attended in person by more than 350 delegates, and thousands more who participated online. AEC 2022 provided an appropriate forum to discuss innovative solutions to support climate-smart development in Africa.

African Development Bank Acting Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, Prof. Kevin Urama emphasized that Africa’s future will come from the innovation of young Africans.

Urama spoke directly to the African youth and said: “Your innovation, your knowledge, your strength, use that so we can do climate smart development on the continent.” He noted that the conference provided rich lessons including challenges, solutions and what the private sector and government can do to leverage available skills and technology.

Speaking on her behalf, UNDP Deputy Administrator and Director of the Regional Office for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, called for accelerated action.

“In particular, we must take into account the economic, social, environmental, political and security costs of green transitions. We must fully understand the trade-offs and opportunity costs for communities and families and avoid trajectories that undermine development prospects and increase inequality,” said Eziakonwa.

She noted that climate finance is urgent and urged African governments to resolve the uncertainty surrounding it. “Achieving net zero emissions must also mean achieving zero poverty,” Eziakonwa reiterated.

Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Dr. Hanan Morsy, noted that tackling climate change should not be a choice but a necessity for Africa to achieve climate smart development.

“As such, what we have developed and discussed here in relation to climate smart development is not just an event. This is a process,” she said, urging African countries to heed the analysis and recommendations presented at the conference. presented.

Held in Balaclava, Mauritius, the conference brought together policy makers, climate experts, private sector representatives, academics and youth to develop an action plan to guide Africa in dealing with the threat of climate change.

AEC2022 was jointly organized by the African Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations Development Programme, in collaboration with the Government of Mauritius. This year’s conference was themed Supporting climate smart development in Africa.