Luanda - Promotion of solid management of environmental and natural resources for adjustment to disasters and climate change is crucial for promotion of sustainable use of aquatic resources
The recommendation came from the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Environmental Issues of the Permanent Representatives to the African Union held in Kenya on Monday.
Participants believe that the move could increase the contribution of blue economy to the development of the continent.
The three-day event allowed the participants to address the environmental aspects such as biodiversity, wildlife and forestry, the implementation of sustainable forest management frameworks and the finalisation of the African Union's climate change strategy,
The meeting focused on the preparations for the COP26, to be held in the United Kingdom and the preparations for the COP 27 taking place on the African continent.
As for the “Great Green Wall” strategy, the Sahara and Sahel Initiative, it requires the development of projects to facilitate the necessary impact for strategic development throughout the continent.
They recognise that resource mobilisation must be linked to concrete activities and enhance synergies between the work of the AU and the Pan-African Agency on the Great Blue Green Wall, with a focus on implementing blue economy actions.
Participants also considered that pandemics, climate variability and change, hydrological and meteorological hazards, disasters, waste, biodiversity loss, land degradation, coastal and marine challenges are some of the threats to the continent's timely achievements of Agenda 2063.
AU Commissioner Josefa Sacko stressed that the continent is heading toward the end of the implementation period of the first 10-year Agenda 2063 Implementation Plan.
“We face new challenges because of the pandemic, climate variability and change, hydrological and meteorological risks, biodiversity loss, land degradation, coastal and marine challenges are some of the threats to the continent's timely achievements,” she said.
She emphasised that the retreat provided a platform for the sustainable environment and blue economy sector to outline their priorities, programmes and needs, with the aim of dialogue and working together to ensure that Africa's needs and priorities on environmental issues are strongly articulated. at all levels.
Josefa Sacko added that the African continent will be the most affected by the effects of climate change, as rising sea levels will affect coastal communities and many important cities.
According to the official, desertification is already affecting several countries, which poses security challenges, as it is causing climate variability through extreme weather events, as well as the loss of crops and livelihoods.
