Alex Rose-Innes
THE question most often asked by investors from First World countries is if the African continent is indeed ready for green industrialisation.
More than 20 African environmental experts met in Dakar in Senegal two years ago to specifically address this issue. One issue that met with unanimous agreement had been the fact that any sustainable green development would necessitate structural transformation. This depended on every sector of a government to address critical issues, challenges and opportunities.
Even in highly developed countries across the world, a total mind-set change had been necessary and even then, the change had been slow. It meant replacing green backs with green thinking, not merely generating money, but working in unison across borders to make a difference in the lives of all, not only a few.
With the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) new technology which provided a quantum leap into a future had opened up many opportunities. These had been developed to respect ecology and drive alternative sources while simultaneously addressing growing population needs and engendering positive climate change. Especially in Africa, cost saving would be of paramount importance as would low-polluting endeavours and most of all, inclusive growth for all.
However, two years after the summit, only a few countries had seriously bought into the benefits offered by 4IR technology. Rwanda, Nigeria and Kenya had diversified into alternative energy provision with excellent economic outcomes for all its peoples, but problems continued to persist.
Officials of member states, such as Dr. Adetunji Babatunde from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and Dr. Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane, Director of the African Institute of Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) at United Nations (UN), highlighted the challenges and provided insight into future successful and sustainable outcomes.
But, despite the increasing economic growth on the African continent, Dr Soltane said that all African leaders had not fully committed to greening industrialisation. Many countries still lacked diversification, poverty rates and inequalities were high and governments did not seem to appreciate the fact that agriculture in its current form harmed the environment. Also, the important role of the huge informal sector had not been realised.
According to Dr Soltane, the answer of Africa’s readiness could not be precise, given that the majority of countries on the continent had considered isolated actions, but had so far failed to establish definite plans for the development of a green industry which should be integrated into their national planning. “Another challenge would be technical capacity to raise awareness and effectively implement a green industrialisation strategy,” she said.
She however said that the time was right considering the final conclusions at the conference regarding financing of developments, the signing of free African trade (#AfCFTA) agreements and opportunities offered by the 2030 and 2063 agendas.
During the summit, it was acknowledged that South Africa, Malawi, Mauritius, the Ivory Coast and Ethiopia had already set up green initiatives across renewable energy, bio-ethanol production, green agro-industrial value chains, the blue economy and the creation of eco-industrial parks.
“An imperative for successful green industrialisation is the presence of strong visionary leadership and the existence of government-level capacity to drive change. IDEP will continue to play its role as trainer of African managers in the field of industrial development on the continent, including encouraging green industrialisation,” Dr Soltane concluded.
