Climate change is not going to reduce Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 15% between now and 2050, as many experts predict. To avoid this, the African Development Bank (AfDB) will be working with the Korean Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITTI) to promote technological solutions, particularly to prevent natural disasters.
Climate technologies have never been so popular with public and private institutions around the world. This is because these solutions, based on artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), are effective in mitigating and adapting to climate change. The Korean Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are joining forces to ensure that these tools are more widely adopted.
The recently signed “technical assistance” agreement aims to support increased investment in low-carbon dioxide (CO2) technologies in several African countries that are suffering the effects of climate change, particularly droughts and floods. In concrete terms, Keiti engineers based in Seoul will share their experience in the design and use of digital technology with African peers, particularly for the implementation of projects on the circular economy, agriculture and energy.
“Transforming these sectors to ensure energy and food security is crucial to Africa’s sustainable development and requires significant investment in technology development, increased financial flows and strategic partnerships,” explains Kevin Kariuki, the AfDB’s Vice President in charge of Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth.
Read also- NIGERIA: South Korea grants $12 million for rural solar mini-grids
To achieve this, the institution, which has its headquarters in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, will also have to encourage start-ups that are already making their mark in climate technologies. This is the case of the Kenyan start-up Amini, which has been awarded $2 million in the first half of 2023 to deploy a “constellation of satellites”. Its project, backed by the European Space Agency (ESA) based in Paris, France, will provide data on drought, floods, soil and crop health to farmers and government agencies.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi
