Rotterdam, 19 April (TDI): The Global Center on Adaption (GCA) emphasized further cooperation with the African Development Bank (AfDB) for a greener Sahel, on Monday. Through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) launched by the GCA and AfDB together, both sides will focus on climate adaptation and resilience measures in the Desert to Power Initiative. The initiative is a key pillar for the Great Green Wall Initiative in the Sahel region.
GCA AND AfDB HAVE A LONG-TERM STRONG PARTNERSHIP
In 2018, the Global Center on Adaption (GCA) was founded in Rotterdam, Holland. GCA is committed to promoting innovative climate solutions and climate resilience. Vulnerable groups in the poorest countries are the most significant concern of the GCA.
To tackle climate adaptation issues in Africa, GCA and AfDB launched the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) in 2021. In the same year, at the 2021 Africa Leaders’ Dialogue, the AAAP was endorsed as the implementation vehicle to realize the vision of the Africa Adaptation Initiative. Moreover, the African Union also firmly supports the AAAP.
The AAAP aims to mobilize $25 billion to promote climate adaptation on the African continent. The funding will improve malnutrition for at least 10 million people, support 1 million young people with entrepreneurial skills and job creation, and integrate climate resilience into infrastructure investments worth about $7 billion.
REGIONAL COOPERATION BETWEEN GCA AND AfDB IN SAHEL
The Sahel, one of the most vulnerable areas in the African continent, is highly affected by climate change. Thus, to cope with such serious regional environmental issues, GCA announced in February this year that the team will collaborate with AfDB especially on the Desert to Power Initiative in the Sahel.
AfDB is the one who called up the Desert to Power Initiative. The initiative will stretch across the Sahel region with 11 beneficiary states. They are Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, and Chad.
As the lack of energy has a non-negligible impact on Africa’s economic and social development, the Desert to Power Initiative aims to make the Sahel the world’s largest solar production zone with up to 10,000MW of solar generation capacity by 2030.
The collaboration between the GCA and the AfDB mainly focuses on technical support. Also, the GCA will offer upstream technical assistance to all projects supported by the Desert to Power G5 Sahel Financing Facility. The five countries include Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE SAHEL
The 2020 Ecological Threat Register recognized the Sahel belt as one of three ecological hotspots. According to the data from the United Nations, the Sahel region is more vulnerable than other areas with temperatures increasing at 1.5 times the rate of the global average. Therefore, climate adaptation and resilience measures are crucial to the region.
Unsustainable human activities have badly affected the environment in the Sahel. Besides, the environmental crises in the region have a significant impact on the present and future development of local societies. Water and soil degradation has also caused a chronic food crisis in the Sahel. Furthermore, such severe environmental characteristics have hindered progress in reducing poverty in the Sahel.
In conclusion, a green Sahel will not only contribute to the environment but also greatly promote local development.
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