Policymakers, researchers, donors, regional establishments, civil society, and non-public sector representatives from each Africa and Europe are gathering this week in Nairobi for the annual Africa Regional Centres of Excellence (ArcX) discussion board.
The occasion, which runs from September 15 to 18 , focuses on how science, technology, and innovation can drive Africa’s green transition and sustainable improvement. The discussion board was organized below the EU–Africa partnership and goals to discover methods to strengthen the administration of Africa’s forests, biodiversity, and ecosystems by evidence-based policymaking, analysis collaboration, and information sharing.
With local weather change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation turning into more and more pressing points, the discussion board supplies a platform to debate the right way to harness science, technology, and innovation to handle these challenges.
Speaking on the discussion board, Mr. Ondrej Simek, the Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation in Kenya, emphasised the potential of science and technology to create lasting influence:
“Through science, technology, and innovation, we can build stronger connections, foster deeper collaboration, and create lasting impact. These tools are essential for tackling Africa’s most pressing challenges.”
The urgency of those discussions is amplified by the rising threats to Africa’s pure sources. Dr. Robert Nasi, Director of Science at CIFOR-ICRAF, warned that Africa is shedding its forests at an alarming fee, with extreme financial penalties.
“The disappearance of forests has far-reaching implications for agriculture, which employs a significant portion of Africa’s population,” he mentioned.
This loss additionally results in rising unemployment, desertification, declining biodiversity, and harm to the tourism sector—an business that’s very important for many African economies.
In Kenya, the pure setting supplies crucial sources resembling meals, clear water, vitality, and jobs, all of that are very important for combating local weather change.
However, these sources are below growing stress as a consequence of land degradation, air pollution, fast urbanization, and unsustainable agricultural practices. Dr. Mahaman Bachir Saley, Science & Technology Specialist on the African Union Commission, echoed this concern:
“Africa is rich in potential and natural resources, but potential alone is not enough. We must harness science, technology, and innovation to address climate change, biodiversity loss, food security, energy access, and other critical challenges.”
The interconnectedness of Africa’s ecosystems was one other key theme on the discussion board.
Experts highlighted the crucial function of forests in regulating water cycles, supporting wetlands, and sustaining wildlife. Dr. Peter Minang, Africa Director for CIFOR-ICRAF, bolstered the significance of preserving ecosystems:
“If our forests disappear, our water resources are lost, and food security, development, and economic growth will be undermined.”
Given the deep interdependence of ecosystems, specialists emphasised the significance of addressing the challenges of local weather change and biodiversity loss in a coordinated and built-in approach.
Agroecology, a observe that applies ecological ideas to farming, was recognized as a key technique for selling sustainable agricultural programs that profit each the setting and native communities.
Practices resembling intercropping, agroforestry, and the usage of native species are vital for restoring biodiversity whereas bettering meals manufacturing and resilience to local weather shocks. Given that agriculture is the dominant land use in Africa, agroecology has the potential to rework farming right into a driver of each ecosystem well being and rural prosperity.
Data-driven policymaking was additionally a central matter on the discussion board. Dr. Nasi confused that correct, dependable information is important for designing efficient insurance policies and monitoring progress on worldwide agreements just like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the African Union’s Agenda 2063:
“We are getting better at monitoring the crisis, but we are still too slow in taking action. The economic cost of inaction is staggering.”
Dr. Saley additionally highlighted the necessity to bridge the hole between scientific analysis and political motion:
“Too much research stays in universities and does not reach policymakers. It is time to ensure that scientific evidence informs decisions that will shape Africa’s future.”
As the AU–EU Summit approaches in Angola later this yr, there may be an growing sense of urgency to implement options that can foster sustainable improvement throughout each areas.
With the best insurance policies and worldwide partnerships, Africa can unlock alternatives in green jobs, nature-based options, and sustainable land-use practices that ship long-term advantages for each individuals and the planet.
The ArcX programme, funded by the European Union, helps regional collaboration throughout Africa in 5 key areas: Agroecology, Biodiversity & Forests, Water, Ocean, and Climate. These initiatives are designed to assist strengthen Africa’s capability for sustainable useful resource administration, offering a blueprint for the continent’s green transition.
By harnessing science, technology, and innovation, Africa has the potential to guide the world in sustainable improvement, making a future the place pure sources proceed to help the continent’s rising populations whereas combating local weather change and guaranteeing financial prosperity for generations to come back.