Third annual conference on climate change and development in Africa (CCDA-III): Can climate change spring Africa's transformative development

Abstract

This statement delivered by Carlos Lopes UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA at the Third Annual Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDAIII). Mr. Lopes on his remarks highlighted that, Africa continues to be patronized and perceived as a casualty of climate change as opposed to a contributor to the solution. The type of industrialization path Africa chooses will make a big difference. Africa possesses some of the best resource base for industrial production. Africa needs agro-business and a more efficient use of its resource base. A younger, more educated, connected and urbanized Africa liberates energies, increases women participation and allows the IT revolution to leapfrog some of the major institutional backlogs. Climate justice is about advocating for a multi-dimensional type of justice that encompass accountability. It is not solely concerned with equity in the distribution of environmental risk and benefits.