Africa Innovates Magazine - Flipbook - Page 6
AHUNNA
EZIAKONWA
Regional Director and
Assistant Secretary
General for UNDP
Regional Bureau
for Africa
African ingenuity responds to climate
challenge – the innovation way
Africa has contributed the
least to global greenhouse
gas emissions – at just 4%.
And yet, the continent suffers
a disproportionate impact
that is devastating homes,
livelihoods, ecosystems, and
socioeconomic systems.
Nowhere is the immense
inequality of the climate
crisis starker than in Africa.
Droughts, changing weather
patterns, torrential rains and
floods continue to devastate
countless lives and livelihoods.
And while the science is clear
that climate change is caused
by humans, it is even clearer
that it will take human action to
find solutions. If we are to limit
the increase in temperature
to 1.5°C by 2030, global
greenhouse gas emissions
6
must be cut by 45% by 2030
compared to 2010 levels. Yet
we are on course for a 16%
increase, which would lead
to a 2.7°C rise in temperature
-- causing devastation on an
unprecedented scale, deeper
inequalities,
widespread
suffering.
As Africa contends with the
climate crisis, in their typical
resilient spirit, Africans are
pushing back – maximizing
their God – given talents to
create solutions with real
impact. Governments have
prepared their Nationally
Determined Contributions –
signaling political commitment
to take policy action in support
of climate smart development
strategies. Communities are
leading the way, as those most
SHOWCASING AFRICAN CLIMATE CHAMPIONS
affected in their daily lives are
finding solutions to save the
planet and humanity.
Building on the inaugural
edition of Africa Innovates,
which profiled Africans leading
the way in innovating solutions
to tackle the COVID 19
pandemic, this Second Edition
of the Magazine chronicles
the stories of Africa’s climate
warriors, people every day that
are pushing the boundaries on
climate solutions every day.
From
preventing
food
waste
and
transforming
food systems to renewable
energy; from houses made of
biodegradable materials to
new ways to manage waste –
these are some of the stories
of Africans leading the way in
