Mr. Adam said private sector financial flows can efficiently be channeled into African investments. “The support for African countries to issue green and blue bonds will be critical, including by de-risking such vehicles, recognizing that less than 1 per cent of global green bond issuances are from Africa.”
The African Union Commission’s (AUC’s) head of Environment, Climate Change, Water and Land Management, Harsen Nyambe, cited the low implementation rate of existing policies and strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change in Africa as a major challenge on the continent.
“Countries must not only agree to draft policies but must also implement them to win the war against climate change,” said Mr. Nyambe.
Thuli Khumalo, the director-general for climate change and air quality in South Africa’s national department of environment, forestry and energy, said partnerships among countries, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector are crucial in the fight against climate change.
Ms. Khumalo urged countries to implement the African Green Stimulus Programme launched on 16 September, which addresses the challenges and solutions to the issue of climate.
Leah Wanambwa, AUC’s senior policy officer for climate change and desertification control said Africa’s battle against climate change is plagued by inadequate finances, health, poverty, and weak institutions.
She said: “Countries should rethink their development models going forward,” citing Uganda’s Green Growth Development Strategy as a good example.
Women and girls affected
Martha Melesse, the senior program officer at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) deplored the fact that women and girls have limited resources, information and technology to tackle climate change.
“Recovery path towards gender resilience should be gender sensitive for it to be a win-win situation through clean/renewable energy and climate-smart agriculture as African women provide 40 per cent to crop production on the continent,” said Ms. Melesse.
She highlighted the need for more data to guide policies and action on climate change and recovery on the continent, saying “we need to recognize existing barriers women face and what role they can play in the fight against climate change. Our recovery initiatives should be gender-inclusive.”