Workshop - Economic Growth and Climate Change in Africa

From April 22nd to Friday 24th, Climate Analytics organised a workshop on the relation between climate change and economic growth in Africa. It was held in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The workshop took place at AfDB’s headquarter in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire).

Date24 April 2015
©Florent Baarsch / Climate Analytics
 

In addition to numerous AfDB, UNEP and UNECA staff participants, the workshop hosts were honoured to welcome many high-level researchers from renowned African as well as European universities and institutes. These partners are Makerere University of Kampala (Uganda), University of Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), University of Nigeria (Nsukka, Nigeria), the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (Morocco), Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (Germany) and the Centre for Environmental and Resource Economics (Sweden).

Climate change will induce dramatic changes in Africa. Climatic warming in addition to a higher frequency and magnitude of climate extreme events such as droughts and floods will be challenging Africa’s economies. Especially since much of the continents’ economic output is attributed to rain-fed agriculture. Therefore the Economic Growth and Climate Change in Africa project will thoroughly analyse this relationship in a report, which will be published in December 2015 for the COP21 in Paris.

The workshop was organised in line with the work packages of the overall project. Participants exchanged on the following topics:

  • the relation between climate variability and change of macroeconomic indicators as well as the causal mechanisms potentially leading to such changes,
  • the effects of climate on poverty,
  • the role of adaptation in limiting the consequences of climate change on social and economic development,
  • the development co-benefits and opportunities arising from taking action on climate change (mitigation and adaptation).

The discussions following the presentations by the Climate Analytics’ researchers and partners lead to very concrete and fruitful outcomes. These outcomes will be integrated in the case studies and research currently being conducted.

The final report will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.