By Adebayo Abubakar.
It is no longer news that the global environment is in a climate emergency, brought about by carbon emissions as a result of human [mostly, industrial] activities. The concentration of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the atmosphere has become an existential threat to the global environment, and by implication, to humanity as well. But, with a united voice, global stakeholders have identified and proclaimed, “going green”, as the only way to rescue the environment from the precipice. There is an urgent need for the world to cultivate the habit of using renewable energies, and of embracing “green practices” that will not only keep the environment safe but also help it recover what it has lost to the progressive degradation over decades.
Africa is one of the least industrialised continents of the world and is, therefore, responsible for only a minute fraction of the global carbon emission, as opposed to the heavily indistrialised countries of the northern hemisphere, but it is not immune to the consequences of environmental degradation, caused by the industries in those countries of Europe and America. It was, therefore, a sigh of relief for the people of the continent, when the African Union (AU) launched the AU Green Recovery Action Plan (2021-2027), aimed at reversing [recovering] the losses. According to the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA), the Action Plan aims to galvanize action around the following five priority areas:
1. Climate Finance
2. Renewable energy, energy efficiency, and national Just Transition programs
3. Nature-based solutions and focus on biodiversity
4. Resilient agriculture
5. Green and resilient cities.
These form part of the strategies for the actualization of Agenda 2063 of the AU. It will only be logical for reasons that border on economic strategy, for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to take advantage offered by the terms of the agreement that lowers international barriers within the continent to facilitate the free flow of ideas, technology, alongside those of goods and funds, to promote entrepreneurship in “green practices”, and embrace of same. This, the AfCFTA can do, by enhancing cross-fertilization of ideas across the continent, between, for instance, countries that are trailblazers in the area of green practices like Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Rwanda, Cape Verde Island, and Djibouti (according to a UN report) and those who are just trying to key into the AU Green Recovery Action Plan (AUGRAP), to achieve a shared economic prosperity in Africa, among her people. It, therefore, feels right to note that the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), His Excellency, H.E. Wamkele Keabetswe Mene, in 2021, attended the launching of the Green Energy Africa Summit at an exclusive ministerial and VIP symposium. That shows that AfCFTA is aware of what is at stake, and is ready to contribute its quota towards global efforts aimed at recovering the environment from the impacts of decades of cumulative environmental degradation.
Apart from creating markets for existing entrepreneurs in green practices like AWAWO [a Malawian firm], it can also help firms to reduce the cost of operation in the face of skyrocketing prices of crude oil at the global market, like a Nigerian FM radio station – Sobi FM, which just switched to using solar energy, in powering its equipment. AfCFTA can encourage bigger businesses across the continent that are involved in heavy industrial activities, to embrace green practices. That would amount to killing two birds with a stone, as it will not only reduce the cost of production, as green practices are most often, cost-effective but also fulfill its obligation as a responsible critical stakeholder, in the struggle to save the environment.
It is, therefore, quite encouraging to note that, some business concerns have started embracing renewable energies like solar energy, to power their equipment and activities, as well as other green practices. We have entrepreneurs who are investing in renewable energy technologies, which is in line with the mission, and vision of the (United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC), as being operationalized by the Kyoto Protocol, and especially, the forthcoming COP28 slated for the United Arab Emirates later in the year. It is the forum where the first Global Stocktake of the implementation of the Paris Agreement is expected to conclude. The priorities of COP28 cut across mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, climate finance, and process innovation, as outlined by – Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special Envoy for Climate Change, and COP28 UAE President-Designate, per Zawya report.
This has underscored the fact that the business of ensuring a safer climate around the globe, is a very big one, that should arrest the attention of institutions like the AfCFTA, and the AU. The AfCFTA, being a trade agreement that aims to boost economic integration and development in Africa, is also aimed at helping African businesses innovate and adopt new thinking, like green practices that can reduce the impact of their industrial activities on the environment, and contribute to the fight against climate change.
The AfCFTA can, therefore, create opportunities for green innovation and entrepreneurship in the following ways:
- By lowering trade barriers and increasing market access. It can also facilitate the diffusion of environmental goods and services, such as renewable energy technologies, waste management solutions, and eco-friendly products.
- By fostering regional cooperation and knowledge sharing, the AfCFTA can enable African businesses to learn from each other’s best practices, exchange ideas, and collaborate on green projects.
- By creating opportunities for value addition and diversification, the AfCFTA can encourage African businesses to move away from reliance on extractive and commodity-based sectors and invest in green industries and renewable resource-based sectors.
- By enhancing Africa’s voice and influence in global trade negotiations, the AfCFTA can help African businesses advocate for fair and favorable trade rules that support their green transition and protect their interests.
- The AfCFTA can thus catalyze Africa’s green transformation and de-carbonization, while also creating economic and social benefits for African businesses and consumers.
Africa, doing its bits in the struggle for the soul of the global environment might not be enough, if industrialized nations in the West who are responsible for the lion’s share of carbon emission through heavy industrial activities, fail or refuse to do their part. With most countries in Europe and America setting the deadline to phase out vehicles running on fuel and embracing electric cars, the future looks bright for the environment. Africa, therefore, cannot afford not to honour its part of the agreement. If Africa can do as stated above, it will all end in shared prosperity for the continent, culminating in the realization of Agenda 2063.
Adebayo Abubakar is a Nigerian journalist.
You can reach him via email, marxbayour@gmail.com
Twitter – @marxbayour, Facebook – Marx Bayour
First Published by developmentdispatch
