The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis show how interdependent Europe and Africa are, and why it is important that both continents act together to seize shared opportunities and tackle common challenges. Africa and Europe have a shared interest in accelerating the progress of the global agenda for sustainable development, fuelled by the need to rethink a common future.
A 2020 European Union Joint Communication – Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa – proposes five thematic partnerships, including one on green transition and energy access. As parties prepare for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021, a more targeted EU-Africa green finance partnership is needed, with a strategic long-term plan that aligns with a climate strategy. This climate strategy can be achieved by addressing existing barriers to sustainable finance in Africa, including targeting public funding and attracting private sector in climate-resilient investments through an improved policy and regulatory environment. It will also be accomplished through market-based mechanisms that incentivize private sector investments in mitigation and adaption projects. In this context, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 highlights the need for climate resilient economies and the role of sustainable finance.
This webinar – organized by the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), Green Finance Platform and the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) – focused on scaling up efforts towards Paris alignment and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership.
Recording
Webinar discussion themes included:
Green transition: towards a low-carbon, resource efficient and climate-resilient future
- How to enhance the financing of nature-based solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation in African countries
- How accountants can unlock the barriers to transition to a circular economy in Africa
- How the EU can support integrated national financing frameworks to optimize a sustainable development strategy in Africa
- How debt-for-climate swaps could stimulate investment in climate smart technologies
- The role of ESG Ratings, Sustainability and Integrated Reporting and in guiding investments
Sustainable energy and energy efficiency
- How to accelerate private investments in the African green energy sector
- How to integrate renewables into national and regional energy plans
- How policy incentives can accelerate the implementation of a clean energy transition
- How to manage a socially just transition away from fossil fuels towards clean energy alternatives in Africa
Agenda:
11.00am Welcome by Helen Brand OBE, Chief Executive, ACCA
11.10am Keynote speech by Professor Mervyn E. King, Senior Counsel and former Judge of the Supreme Court of South Africa
11.25am Panel moderated by Nicole Martens, Director: Martens Impact Advisory and Acting Head of Africa & Middle East, UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
- Flora Mutahi, Member of the UN Global Compact Board as well as Founder & CEO, Melvin Marsh International Limited
- Dr. Musonda Mumba, Director for the Rome Centre for Sustainable Development, UNDP
- Dr. Ndidi Nnoli Edozien, Co-Chair, Private Sector Advisory Group on SDGs/ Chair, Circular Economy Innovation Partnership Africa
- Domenico Rosa, head of Unit, Strategic Partnerships with Africa and with the ACP, European Commission
- Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head of Sustainability, Access Bank, Nigeria
12.25pm Q&As
12.35pm Concluding remarks Alta Prinsloo, CEO of PAFA
12.45pm End