Africa-Press – Cape verde. The deputy director of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) defended this Saturday that the energy transition is a “unique opportunity” to transform African economies, positioning them for a ‘greener’ future.
“We must accelerate the adoption of fair and sustainable transitions, which require long-term structural changes and adequate investments”, said António Pedro during an intervention at the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, taking place in Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe.
African countries, he stressed, “have a unique opportunity to actively transform countries and transition to inclusive, low-carbon and resource-efficient economies”, a need that results from economic fragility, climate change, conflicts and distrust that have worsened since the last meeting of ministers, last year.
Among the most important areas from the point of view of transforming economies, with catalytic and comprehensive effects in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals, António Pedro listed the change in food systems, giving priority to regional value chains, reducing risk for investors and the acceleration of the application of the free trade agreement on the continent.
Furthermore, António Pedro defended the need to increase access to energy at an affordable cost, digital connectivity, improving education and social protection systems, as well as creating jobs.
“Finally, we must strengthen our response and collective action on climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, through the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration, which recognizes that climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity and the greatest threat to life on Earth,” he added.
The meeting of the committee of African experts took place in Victoria Falls until Friday, followed by side events during this weekend, and ends with the meeting of ministers with the portfolios of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, on Monday and Tuesday. fair.
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