At a time when Africa needs more than 3,000 billion dollars to invest in mitigation and adaptation between now and 2030, all eyes are on Nairobi, where African Climate Week is being held until 8 September under the theme "African solidarity for global climate action". Afrik 21 is at the heart of this event, with a special report in partnership with the West African Development Bank (BOAD) on the continent's economic situation and prospects in terms of financing, mitigation and resilience.
This is it. African Climate Week (ACW) opens this Monday 4 September 2023 in Nairobi. Africa’s biggest climate event is being held in the Kenyan capital until 8 September. The programme includes the African Climate Action Summit and the 11th Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-XI) organised by the African Union Commission (AUC).
The meeting is being held against a backdrop of political instability and armed conflict on the African continent. These are all situations that compromise the continuity of sustainable development projects. This is the case in Niamey, where the recent coup d’état led to the suspension of construction work on the Kandadji dam on the River Niger.
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This project, implemented by the contractor China Gezhouba Group Company (CGGC), should help to reduce the risk of flooding and the energy gap, particularly in the capital of Niger, which has a population of over 1.8 million. There are also other threats to livelihoods, particularly in Ethiopia, where at least 3.6 million people are food insecure, according to the United Nations (UN).
Faced with these recurring situations, coupled with the issue of climate financing, Afrik 21 is producing a series of editorials throughout the week on the economic and environmental resilience of African countries. A special report supported by the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and a focus composed of analyses and columns will be published:
Monday 4 September
– The challenge of climate change education in Africa
– Climate finance in West Africa
Tuesday 5th September
– Faced with climate change, the race to decarbonise industries
– Flood risks: what response within the BOAD?
Wednesday 6 September
– Agriculture and food security in the face of climate change
– Interview with Oumar Tembely, Director of the BOAD’s Energy and Natural Resources Department
Thursday 7 September
Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca… models of climate-smart cities
Monday 11th September
Review of African Climate Week (ACW2023)
Benoit-Ivan Wansi
