The first UN Science-Policy-Business Forum (UN-SPBF) Africa was launched on 17 August 2023 at the 19th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Addis Ababa. Conceived as a partnership arm for the implementation of AMCEN decisions, it represented an important milestone toward the African Climate Summit hosted by Kenya the following month.
Key messages from industry and finance leaders for the over 50 ministerial delegations in attendance included that:
- the African continent is well positioned to benefit from a transition towards green economies thanks to abundant renewable energy potential and mineral supplies;
- the private sector has an essential role to play in this process as investors, players, and advisors;
- green investments unlock vast benefits for industry actors;
- and policy cohesion in support of policies for green technology and sustainable infrastructure investment is needed from governments.
Opening the event, Shereen Zorba, Head of the UN-SPBF Secretariat, noted that achieving sustainable economic and social transitions in Africa must include a synergy of policy cohesion, green investments, and green structural transformations, as well as the integration of green digital technologies with national investment plans. “We have a license today to speak openly and boldly,” she emphasized.
In introductory remarks, Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said that, to achieve the vision of Agenda 2063, sustainable practices must be implemented across all sectors. She underlined three pathways to enable green structural transformations: first, addressing climate change, which could not only mitigate climate risks but also unlock opportunities, particularly in the renewable energy sector; second, transitioning towards sustainable agricultural practices, which could increase yield by up to 128% and thus play an essential role in ensuring food security; and, third, partner with “the engine of our economies,” namely the private sector. She underlined that business opportunities from the African business sector could be worth up to USD $1.2 trillion annually by 2030.
H.E. Yasmin Fouad, Minister of Environment, Egypt, highlighted her country’s leadership of an initiative launched at COP 27 which aims to help developing countries increase the share of green projects in their national investment plans. Egypt’s own experience with greening its national budget by 2030, she continued, stemmed from a realization that “business as usual” had become unsustainable. She said that key factors in its success included the involvement of a range of national ministries and the Ministry of Environment’s ability to successfully convey the importance of including environmental criteria to other ministries, sectors, and businesses.
Delegates then heard from a multi-sectorial panel including representatives from KPMG, Akobo Minerals, DHL, Coca-Cola Africa, the International Copper Association, Safaricom Ethiopia and the African Development Bank. Steven Kukoda, Executive Director, International Copper Association, said Africa is “driving the green energy transition and decarbonization” as one-third of mineral supplies are in the continent. He added that policies are needed to extract these sustainably and allow Africa to enjoy the wealth they will generate.
Clément Blanc, CEO Sub Saharan Africa, DHL, in turn described the company’s efforts to lead by example in greening the transport sector, noting the transition towards sustainability is a business imperative to respond to demand from green-minded consumers and employees. Anthony Nyong, Director Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank, spoke of efforts to bring the private sector into sustainability efforts, pointing to encouraging initiatives such as the Africa Financial Alliance on Climate Change (AFAC). Emily Waita, Board Chair, Coca-Cola Africa, underlined that the “green industrial age” has the potential to “shift the trajectory of this continent.” She also warned that, conversely, not keeping up with the fast-paced global shift towards sustainability could leave Africa’s industry lagging.
Speaking from the floor, H.E. Lalya Kamara, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Mauritania, suggested bankers and consultants have an advisory role on public projects to ensure these are indeed financeable by the private sector.
H.E. Philda Nani Kereng, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Republic of Botswana, said governments must create an enabling environment for private sector investments.
Finally, H.E. Fitsum Assefa Adela, Minister of Planning and Development, Ethiopia, and current AMCEN President, described her vision on how to empower a new brand of partnership with industry to deliver Africa’s vision for a green transformation: “This vision is really empowered by the fact that climate change and building green economies is not just a fancy word for Africa, a word a world for which we hold conferences here and there. It is really a threat, an issue of life and death.”
The event concluded with the launch of UNEP’s Africa Environment Outlook for Business report. The report sheds light on sustainable business opportunities that address the Triple Planetary Crisis.
