The Economic Commission for Africa, ECA, has highlighted a critical issue facing the continent; 65 percent of Africa’s arable land is degraded, leading to an annual loss of $68 billion in productivity.
Dr. Hanan Morsy, Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist of the ECA, addressed these concerns at the 10th Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment.
Morsy emphasized that the conference’s theme, “Raising Africa’s Ambition to Address Land Degradation, Desertification, and Drought,” is both timely and crucial. She underscored that climate change is severely impacting African economies, costing up to 15 percent of Gross Domestic Product, GDP, each year. Governments are redirecting up to nine percent of their budgets to manage extreme weather effects, exacerbating debt distress and complicating the balance between climate action and essential development needs like health and education.
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Deforestation rates in Africa, Morsy noted, are twice the global average, further depleting agricultural output and ecosystem services. She called for more robust action, highlighting the importance of initiatives like REDD+, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, while stressing the need for fair carbon markets. Currently, African carbon credits are significantly undervalued at less than $10 per tonne, compared to $120 in more established markets.
Morsy argued that a high-integrity African carbon market, which ensures fair pricing and aligns with community needs, is essential for sustainable development. She framed climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss as interconnected crises that pose severe economic and social threats, urging immediate and collective action.
The ECA, according to Morsy, is committed to aiding member states in tackling these environmental challenges through various initiatives. She concluded by stressing the importance of transforming ambition into actionable solutions, calling for a united effort to build a resilient and sustainable future for Africa and its future generations.
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