KEPSA represented by the Chair of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Sector Board, Ms Emily Waita and Mr Joseph Mokaya from Safaricom on 17^th August 2023, participated in the 19^th Africa Ministerial Conference on Environment that took place, from 14^th to 18^th August 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The conference brought together ministers and delegations from 53 Member States representing the African continent and aimed at addressing, in a bold, well-articulated, cross-cutting and holistic manner the policies required to build robust economies and attract private investment, especially through investment in green technologies and infrastructure, while paving the road towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s vision 2063. Decisions made by the Conference form the common negotiating positions of Africa at the UN Environment Assembly.

In a session hosted by the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum (UNSPBF), in cooperation with the Secretariat of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment and the African Development,  the high-level panel at the Ministerial Luncheon entitled: “Spearheading Africa’s Green Technology and Investment Revolution” sought to find private sector perspectives on the green technology and investment revolution in transitioning Africa to the new area while tapping into cross partnerships’ in Africa.  

While expounding on some of the policy actions required to drive the green structural transformation in Africa, Ms Waita highlighted that, that the green transition has experienced significant policy challenges such as; sectoral fragmentation where different sectors pursue independent policies without aligning to the environmental and economic goals; lack of Coordination of policies especially at national, regional, and local levels policy; Policies that favour short-term economic gains despite the long-term orientation of sustainability agenda among others.  There is, therefore, a need to adopt an integrated policy framework approaches that aligns economic, environmental, and social objectives.

To overcome policy obstacles’, it is important to foster, global, international and national cooperation for tackling investments and environmental-related challenges. “As we usher in a new dawn in driving solutions for the Green Industrial Age, there is a need for a special purpose vehicle to implement resolutions focusing on the nexus between trade, investment, manufacturing and climate action. This platform will facilitate Africa to tap into economies of scale, harmonize trading frameworks in green investments and environmental goods and services and support private sector negotiate in a unified voice in a green economy,” reiterated Ms Waita.

The Africa Environment Outlook for Business Report was also launched today at AMCEN. The reports present how innovation, circularity, and sustainable production can drive economic growth while addressing the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss. Present at AMCEN also is the Cabinet Secretary of Environment Climate Change and Forestry Hon Soipan Tuya, who updated the conference on Africa Climate Summit preparations. Africa Climate Summit co-hosted by Kenya and the Africa Union will take place in Kenya from 4^th - 6^th September 2023 in Nairobi.