- Scheduled for 24th to 25th October in South Africa, the Sustainability Week Africa forum will explore the challenges and solutions being deployed across industries to tackle climate change.
- Keynote speakers will share innovative ideas on how businesses can support the continent in adopting sustainable practices faster in the face of climate change.
- The first edition of Sustainability Week Africa comes at a time when governments and businesses across Africa are grappling with the negative impacts of extreme weather events.
This week, policymakers will be closely following the proceedings at the Economist Impact’s Sustainability Week Africa, where keynote speakers will be sharing innovative ideas on how businesses can support the continent in adopting sustainable practices faster in the face of climate change.
For forum, which is scheduled for 24th to 25th October in South Africa aims at amplifying challenges and latest solutions being deployed across industries including, agriculture, housing, tourism, manufacturing, steel among similar others.
The event comes at a time when governments and businesses across Africa are grappling with negative impacts of extreme weather events, triggering loss of lives and economic fallout.
For instance, a number of Southern African countries are reeling from severe drought, which experts are closely linking to La Nina weather phenomenon. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), over 27 million people are affected by worst drought in 100 years that is hurting Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The UN agency estimates that 21 million children have been plunged into a state of malnourishment.
Further south in Namibia, the authorities have resorted into killing wildlife and feeding them to people to forestall their painful death due to inadequate food.
While the south of the continent withers under drought, a number of countries including Chad, South Sudan and Sudan are drenching in severe floods.
For instance, the UN says that in South Sudan, raging floods have affected 42 of the country’s 78 counties. The global body adds that 58 health facilities have been submerged in five counties and about 90 others are inaccessible with about 15 main roads swept away, including those offereing connection to the capital Juba.
UN says that as 4th October 2024, an estimated 890,000 people in flood-affected counties in South Sudan were negatively affected.
Sustainability Week Africa
With attendance estimated at 500 in-person delegates, the Economist Impact’s Sustainability Week Africa will see over 100 speakers converge at Cape Town to share insights on how governments and private sector players are closing ranks to tackle the threat of climate change including floods and drought.
Some of the key topics where speakers will lead insightful discussions include water sustainability; agriculture, biodiversity, and nature-based solutions. Speakers will also delve into ways in which international regulations are shaping sustainability, especially here in Africa.
Key speakers and topics
Some of the key speakers lined up for critical sessions during the forum are Mo Ibrahim, the Founder and chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation as well as Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy secretary-general, United Nations who will be part of the highlight leaders giving opening remarks at the conference.
Julie Greene Chief sustainability officer, Olam Agri and Olam Group will be part of a panel discussion on Balancing people, planet and profit: investing in the transition while supporting communities and employees.
At the same time, Stewart Bailey, Chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer at mining giant AngloGold Ashanti will be in a fireside discussion driving sustainable and equitable development in Africa’s mining sector.
Additionally, Frank Mwiti, the CEO, Nairobi Securities Exchange will feature in a fireside chat titled, measuring the performance of green finance: banks’ role in funding African sustainability.
What’s more, Wayne Cook, the Managing director of agricultural giant Fresh Del Monte Kenya will be part of the distinguished panel discussing: What’s happening in regenerative agriculture across Africa?
A full list of speakers can be found here
The 24th-25th conference programme aims to delve into several topics such as opportunities for Africa to firm up its manufacturing capacity and gradually step up its share in the international value chain.
Leaders from both government and private sector will share insights on how to power sustainable growth for small businesses across Africa, intricately infusing the need for sustainability amid population growth and its implications on food security.
Delegates will also get new knowledge on the continent’s potential to create green jobs, drive intra-African trade while advancing sustainability goals and objectives.
Furthermore, sustainability Week Africa is structured to include a CSO leaders club, networking and partnership sessions and vital forums critical at leveraging synergies across industries and borders. You can find the full agenda of the conference here.
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