With the COVID-19 pandemic costing over 30 million African jobs, driving up poverty, and increasing debt pressures—challenges require a multifaceted approach more than ever.
At the same time, African economies must contend with a worsening triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—while confronting the fact that they remain heavily dependent on natural resources across formal and informal sectors.
The best way to tackle these issues simultaneously is to prioritize green investments that back the sustainable use of resources, clean and efficient energy, and nature-based solutions.
In short, Africa must move toward a green economy that leverages invests in, and protects the natural capital that makes up a majority of the continent’s wealth.
In Senegal, for example, some institutions offer training in this field to prepare people of all ages particularly youths for green jobs.
Professor Adams Tidjani is director of the Institute for Environmental and Metrology Professions in Dakar.