By Yemi Olakitan
African countries have been urged by the Regional Conference on Sustainable Development and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) to reinvent and advance their economic systems by incorporating the conservation of natural resources.
This was one of the decisions made by the forum following its summit on sustainable development on March 3, 2023, in Niamey, Niger Republic.
The discussion covered topics like water, land, promoting alternative energy sources, and a just transition.
The participating countries advocated for the development of urbanisation to achieve an inclusive growth among members, as well as the installation of green and resilient infrastructure to support sustainable industrialization.
The meeting also urged African nations to use cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence, science, and innovation to propel their economies forward.
The panel also discussed how young people may influence the changes that are required in the coming ten years to meet the goals of sustainable development.
The resolutions also took into account the Niamey statement on expediting an inclusive and environmentally friendly recovery and fully implementing both Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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To help give early warning systems for coming events, it urged for enhanced government investment in digital weather and climate observation systems.
The forum asked the African Export-Import Bank, African Development Bank, African Union Commission, and other partners to increase their support in order to scale up and carry out the anticipated efforts.
They list the projects as the Regional Digital Carbon Registry, Debt-for-Nature Swaps, Voluntary National and Local Reviews, and Harmonization of Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Reporting Protocols.
Others include the Great Blue Wall Initiative, the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility, and capacity-building in regard to green, blue, and sustainable bonds to address funding issues.
“We should work to strengthen pro-environment and pro-climate action, and to greatly speed up the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063,” it stated.
On Thursday, Mr. Mohamed Bazoum, the president of Niger, formally opened the two-day conference.
The forum’s conference was organised by UNECA in cooperation with the government of the Niger Republic, AUC, the African Development Bank (AFDB), and UN agencies.
Ministers from Africa as well as representatives from the fields of finance, planning, economic and social development, water, energy, industry, infrastructure, urban design, and land management were present at the event.
