The Green Growth Africa Sustainability Network (Green Growth Africa) has issued a cautionary statement regarding the potential financial toll of climate change on African nations. The organization projects that the yearly expense resulting from climate change effects on the continent could reach $50 billion by the year 2050.
Despite being responsible for only about three percent of the worldwide emissions of greenhouse gases, Africa is uniquely vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. Green Growth Africa emphasized this discrepancy and pointed out that the continent encounters a disproportionately large impact.
During a virtual press briefing leading up to the 2023 International Youth Day, Dr. Adedoyin Adeleke, the Executive Director of Green Growth Africa, noted that Africa holds a distinctive position as the only continent where over 60 percent of its population is below the age of 25. He further indicated that by 2030, nearly half of the global youth population will originate from Africa.
With the theme “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World,” the 2023 International Youth Day is being observed. Dr. Adeleke urged African nations to proactively equip their youth with skills related to sustainability. He emphasized that this approach would allow the continent to harness the passion, resilience, and innovative spirit of its young population, facilitating the development of new environmentally conscious industries.
While acknowledging the significant demographic, enthusiasm, and potential of African youth for driving sustainable socio-economic growth, Dr. Adeleke acknowledged that numerous complex and multidimensional challenges limit the transformational opportunities. He called for the involvement of governments, private sectors, multilateral organizations, and international partners to collaboratively address these issues.
Dr. Adeleke underscored that Africa currently grapples with a rise in climate-related extreme weather events, such as floods, heatwaves, unpredictable rainfall, and rising sea levels. These events have severe human and economic repercussions, exacerbating food insecurity, health problems, conflicts, internal displacement, and the impacts of COVID-19. This worsens existing socio-economic challenges and deepens extreme poverty on the continent.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Adeleke recognized that climate change also presents openings for African nations to enhance energy accessibility and boost economic growth. He highlighted the need for climate actions that align with social and economic development goals. Traditional strategies might not be the most suitable for Africa’s circumstances, given the necessity to foster development while reducing carbon emissions.
Furthermore, Dr. Adeleke referred to a 2023 report from Arup and Oxford Economics that projects the creation of new industries valued at $10.3 trillion globally by 2050 through a transition to a net-zero emissions environment. These industries encompass various areas like electric vehicles, renewable energy, clean energy equipment, renewable fuels, green finance, and supply chain support.
Africa is well-positioned to capitalize on this shift by exploiting its abundant resources, including minerals like Lithium for batteries and its youthful workforce, which can contribute skilled labor not only to the continent but to other parts of the world. Conversely, overreliance on fossil fuels, as seen in countries like Nigeria, could lead to economic difficulties in light of the world’s shift away from such energy sources.
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