Strategies and Policies for Scaling Africa’s Green Business

As African governments grapple with economic development and the urgency for rapid growth in tandem with the continent’s rising population and needs, they must address the consequences of climate change and the disruptions it portends for achieving inclusive and sustainable growth. Africa may be considered as facing a Catch-22 situation, where priorities for economic prosperity are not decoupled from achieving the Sustainable Global Goals (SDGs) and the pursuit of the former conflicts with the achievement of the latter. Africa’s quest to boost economic growth could accelerate climate change. Although the continent has made the least contribution to this global phenomenon, it could heat up 1.5 times faster than the rest of the world. It is quite apparent that being essentially a resource- and commodity-dependent continent, the physical impacts of climate change seen by more frequent and intense floods, droughts, harvest failures, soaring temperatures and tropical storms could derail Africa’s projected economic growth trajectories, plunging more Africans into poverty and conflict.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Climate Action