Africa’s Roadmap to a Climate-Resilient Future
In an article written last year, -Africa in the face of Global Warming-, much was discussed on Africa’s chances with the impacts climate change would bring upon the young continent. The article also briefly deliberated on Africa’s adaptability and mitigation strategies, which is a step in Africa’s roadmap to a climate-resilient future.
This post seeks to expound on Africa’s master plan for a climate-resilient future despite the existential threats that loom. Likely questions to be considered are, ‘How are regional and continental bodies working towards this desired future?’ and ‘Are international institutions or foreign states supporting this cause?’ Continental bodies like the African Development Bank (AfDB) and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and The Great Green Wall (GGW) project would also be considered.
Having already researched the aforementioned institutions and project for precise details regarding the topic, it is necessary to note that Africa is planning a climate-resilient future. However, it might not seem so because of the pace at which they are being implemented. Still, we can see some of those plans and strategies in the institutions’ initiatives targeted towards a sustainable and more climate-resilient Africa. We also know how some countries comply with laid down regulations and objectives to achieve a greener future. But first, let’s talk about The Great Green Wall (GGW)!
The Great Green Wall (GGW)
This project represents Africa’s work towards a greener future. Led by the AU, The Great Green Wall brought together more than 20 countries to initiate this ambition. Perhaps what’s remarkable about this project is not just its response to the notable climate change, desertification, and drought in the Sahel region; it is an answer to the consequences land degradation and droughts have instigated throughout that region in the form of conflicts, famine, and even migration. The project, which started in 2007, seeks to grow an 8,000km green wall (trees) spanning 11 countries or intervention zones, namely Chad, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Senegal, Niger, Nigeria, Mauritania, Sudan, Mali, Ethiopia, and lastly Eritrea.
The wall, which is a global symbol, represents humanity’s fight to overcome its biggest threat. It shows hope for a greener and safer future, where the environment is one common capital we are willing to preserve at all cost irrespective of our diversity and whatever adversity that may arise.
In the last One Planet Summit held last December, GGW received $14 billion funding to support the efforts for the next ten years, and among its financiers were the Government of France, The World Bank, and the AFDB. This support shows that this isn’t just an African initiative but a global initiative in the direction of a resilient future.
New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
The African Union’s Development Agency, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), has also been involved in plans pathed towards Africa’s climate resiliency. In 2015 it co-launched the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100) at COP21 in Paris, this initiative plans to bring 100 million hectares of land in Africa into restoration by 2030, also not forgetting its aim to accelerate restoration to enhance food security and climate resiliency in Africa.
Among many others, NEPAD has also launched an initiative called the African Resilient Landscape Initiative (ARLI), which works “towards ensuring the sustainable use and management of land,” -Dr. Ibrahim said Mayaki, CEO, NEPAD Agency. Because of its interconnectedness with similar initiatives in Africa, ARLI will work with the AFR100 to realize land resiliency and the objective of restoring 100 million hectares of land. The NEPAD program has set aside funds to strengthen African countries’ resilience to climate change, and around 2014 the program raised £200,000 to support this. Its target areas were:
1. Biodiversity
2. Adaptation of agriculture to climate change
3. Access and benefit-sharing
4. Development and implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)
5. Integrating climate change into the National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs)
African Development Bank (AfDB)
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has also not relented to pursue a resilient future for the continent. The bank has been involved in plans and strategies for an ambitious future, one of which is the Strategy of Climate Risk Management and Adaptation (CRMA). As its name implies, this strategy plans to make sure that investments financed by the bank are “climate-proof”, meaning that all investments done by the bank are optimally utilized and managed to reduce to its barest minimum, the effects of climate change. In other words, with CRMA, all investments done by the bank would be utilized as effectively and as sustainable as possible while still being resilient and minimizing impacts amidst the adverse effects of climate change.
The AfDB also formulated the second Climate Change Action Plan II (CCAP2) under a group of experts, following the successful implementation of the Climate Change Action Plan I (CCAP) from 2011–2015. According to the introductory text in the CCAP2 written by the current President of AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, CCAP was able to channel about $12 billion in funding for renewable energy, sustainable transport, sustainable natural resources management, climate-proofing of critical infrastructure, and capacity building; and significant transition to low carbon and climate-resilient development. However, for the second phase -CCAP2-, the vision outlined in the executive summary was benchmarked on supporting the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Africa. The phase intended to help African countries define and achieve their commitments to adaptation and mitigation whilst fulfilling their development objectives. It also worked on scaling up levels of climate finance accessed and channeled to African countries from both public and private sources (AfDB), 2015).
Conclusion
Africa is a very young continent and the second most populous continent with a landmass of about 30.2 million km and over 1 billion people. Out of this diverse populace, about 60% are below 25, making it the world’s youngest continent. This means that with the massive availability of human capital in Africa, it is a continent that has a lot to offer in the future.
According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), climate change has a growing impact in the region, specifically hitting the most vulnerable hardest and contributing to problems that make living worse. So regrettably, as Africa is the world’s youngest continent, it is still one of the most vulnerable continents, especially to climate change. And it was for the reason to lead that young generation to a climate-resilient future that institutions like the African Development Bank, the AU’s NEPAD, and other regional and international institutions have set up initiatives and funds to achieve this ambition.
Coupled with that, the events and conferences countries and other institutions have participated in, committing to a climate-resilient future, have complemented the efforts for a more climate-resilient Africa. That being said, the enthusiasm that concerned parties in Africa’s roadmap have shown to resiliency has been incredible so far. However, not all of the parties concerned are willing to fulfill their set out objective. Some countries or parties display inaction and lethargy traits in their actions, which is not an ingredient for progress.
Due to the youths’ energy and readiness for that ambitious future, they have rallied around in their countries and spurred actions and implementation for a climate-resilient future that they will live in and continue. And this bravery shown by these youths mustn’t be suppressed by any means. On the contrary, it should be supported because their voices are building and sowing resiliency seeds for Africa’s future.
Author: Hope Lekwa
Photos: irena.org, fsnnetwork.org
