The tricky path towards sustainable development in the times of climate change

Abstract

To maintain Africa’s growth trajectory and ensure the desired economic transformation will require access to appropriate technologies while taking into consideration the opportunities derived from climate change, opening of the 9th ECA Committee on Sustainable Development taking place in Addis Ababa. Many decisions around sustainable development goals and climate change are going to be taken during the latter part of the year making 2015 one of the key times for new global agendas and frameworks. This session of the committee is charged with an enormous task to discuss, among many other subjects, the role of mineral resources, technology, innovations and climate change resilience in fostering sustainable socio-economic development. It is clear that focus on innovation and appropriate technology access plus rational use and management of natural resources and taking into consideration climate change impact are critical for Africa’s transformative development.