5 months ago
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Former Minister of Handicrafts, Tourism and Culture in Mali, Ramatoulaye Ndiaye, has warned that Africa faces existential challenges, including extreme weather, erratic rainfall, land degradation, desertification, water scarcity, sea-level rise and biodiversity loss, which endanger ecosystems, livelihoods and socio-economic stability.
Meanwhile, the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof Benedict Oramah, said though Africa contributes little to global emissions with 3.7 per cent of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, there is a universal consensus that climate change adversely impacts the continent disproportionately.
Ndiaye said this yesterday in her keynote at the Climate Action Africa Forum 2024 (CAAF24) in Lagos with the theme, ‘Green Economies, Brighter Futures; Innovating and Investing in Climate-Smart’.
Represented by the Director, Project and Asset-Based Finance of Afreximbank, Helen Brume, the board chairman said: “Africa is already experiencing widespread damage attributable to climate change, including prolonged droughts, sea level rise, coastal flooding and erosion, salinity in low-lying cities, loss of biodiversity, heavy rains, and reduced food production.”
On interventions, he said: “Afreximbank is actively contributing to the continent’s drive towards climate action and green growth initiatives through various projects and collaborations. It is launching a $300 million Concessional Finance programme.
Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Titi Oshodi, said: “The theme ‘Green Economies, Brighter Future’ encapsulates the essence of our mission to transform our economies into engines of sustainability and prosperity for all.
“The choices we make today will shape the world we leave for future generations, and we must act decisively and collaboratively.”
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