Climate Change: Securing Africa’s Future

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) –– the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) –– published August 9, 2021 has dire warnings for climate change in Africa and across the globe. While African countries account for a small fraction of global carbon output, they are facing some of the most serious threats since their resilience to deal with climate risks remains limited. Most countries across the continent are highly likely to experience warming of more than 3°C by the end of this century. Declining rainfall levels are epected overall, but the intensity of extreme rainfall will lead to widespread flooding in many areas.

The upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), to be held in Glasgow in November 2021, will be a critical opportunity for stakeholders to commit to drastic cuts in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and to provide the necessary financing for climate adaptation. Since the 2009 COP15 in Copenhagen, Africa’s climate priorities have been to: (1) increase food security and protect food systems, (2) protect ecosystems, and (3) scale up renewable energy solutions. To achieve these goals, securing adequate climate financing is crucial, as Africa must balance a prolonged economic rebound and recovery alongside increasing climate risks.

ACET’s African Transformation Report 2021: Integrating to Transform (ATR3) identifies climate risk as a pressing national challenge for countries that nonetheless requires increased regional collaboration for action. Specifically, the report focuses on the need for African countries to collaborate beyond trade to tackle shared challenges and harness regional opportunities –– in line with the COP26 goal of rising to the challenges of the climate crisis by working together. In addition, many of the recommendations presented in ATR3 align with the goals set out by the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN)1 –– including scaling up renewable energy, promoting climate-smart agriculture, and sustaining green and blue ecosystems.

Event objective

Climate Change: Securing Africa’s Future will bring together key stakeholders, including youth leaders and representatives, for a “deep dive” discussion on how African leaders can work together to jointly address the continent’s most pressing climate adaptation and mitigation challenges. It will 

highlight success stories of regional collaboration showcasing how existing investments in climate adaptation have paid off thus far. Leaders on the frontlines of climate adaptation in Africa will voice their most urgent needs and share how innovative approaches such as climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions are being used to support adaptation and sustainably manage ecosystems.