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Sustainability
- Food security, livelihoods, and economies are threatened as extreme weather conditions hit Africa hard.
- Citizens are now calling for bold action from their governments and the global community to combat this worsening crisis.
- Over 82% of Africans advocate for measures to protect communities against extreme floods, droughts, and environmental degradation.
As climate change tightens its grip, the African continent is bearing the brunt of extreme weather conditions that have profoundly impacted food security, livelihoods, and economies.
A recent Afrobarometer survey paints a stark picture of the hard reality for millions of Africans: worsening droughts and crop failures are threatening their very survival. Citizens are now calling for bold action from their governments and the international community to combat this worsening crisis.
A decade of declining agricultural yields
Over the past decade, the majority of Africans report an alarming increase in the severity of droughts and crop failures. According to Afrobarometer…
- Organic farming offers an alternative that leverages locally available farm inputs to drive crop yields.
- By using compost, mulching, and integrated pest control, smallholders in Zimbabwe are cutting costs and overreliance on external inputs.
- Smallholder farmers are gaining valuable skills in organic practices through partnerships with entities such as the Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre.
In recent years, Zimbabwe has experienced a steady rise in organic agriculture as a sustainable alternative to conventional farming. Facing food security challenges exacerbated by climate change, erratic weather patterns, and limited access to fertilizers, Zimbabwean farmers have turned to organic methods as a solution.
Organic agriculture, which eschews synthetic chemicals in favour of natural farm inputs, is not only helping address food shortages but is also empowering smallholder farmers with resilient and ecologically sound farming practices.
The rise of organic agriculture in Zimbabwe
Organic farming in Zimbabwe is not merely a trend but a necessity born …
- Green building in Uganda is gaining traction with several standout projects showcasing sustainable design and construction.
- Uganda’s green building strategies are rooted in a few key principles, key among them, energy efficiency, biodiversity preservation and use of sustainable materials.
- Projections by the IFC show that investment in green buildings in emerging market cities will hit $24 trillion over the next 10 years.
Uganda is making a stab at establishing itself as a leader in green urbanization in East Africa, leveraging policies such as the Uganda Green Growth Development Strategy (UGGDS). This development blueprint aims to integrate key aspects of sustainability into urban planning through eco-friendly infrastructure, green energy, and resource efficiency.
Kampala, the capital city, is increasingly welcoming green projects with authorities embracing strategies that seek to minimize environmental impact while fostering urban resilience in the face of adverse effects of climate change.
Landmark green building projects
Green building in …
- Despite its $6.2Trn natural wealth, Africa remains “green rich but cash poor.”
- Projections show that had carbon sequestration alone been accounted for, Africa’s nominal GDP in 2022 could have increased by $66.1Bn.
- In Europe, carbon prices can reach as high as $200 per tonne, yet the same credits are traded for as little as $3 to $10 per tonne in Africa.
At the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, African leaders are pushing for a fair valuation of the continent’s natural riches—spanning vast forests, carbon sequestration capabilities, and ecosystem services.
They call on authorities to factor them into calculating Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This bold move aims to redefine wealth on a global scale by integrating the immense value of Africa’s natural assets into economic frameworks.
In a pivotal communique, African heads of state have cited the invaluable contributions of their ecosystems to global public …
- A new survey shows that trash disposal, including plastic waste, is the top concern for urban communities.
- Nearly half (46 per cent) of Africans believe citizens have a big role in addressing pollution.
- An estimated 78 per cent of Africans want their governments to do more to limit environmental pollution.
Across Africa, environmental pollution has become increasingly urgent, with two-thirds of citizens describing it as a severe community issue. From urban centers choked by trash to rural areas grappling with deforestation, the environmental challenges are as diverse as the continent.
The Afrobarometer survey reveals that trash disposal, including plastic waste, tops the list of concerns for urban communities, cited by 37 per cent of respondents across Africa.
In rural areas, deforestation takes the lead at 28 per cent. Water pollution (17 per cent), air pollution, and poor sanitation also rank high, painting a grim picture of environmental degradation across countries.…
- Mandatory IFRS sustainability reporting in Kenya will begin from 2027 to 2029.
- For the SMEs that are non-public interest entities, mandatory onboarding will begin on January 1, 2029.
- This unified framework aims to provide consistent and comparable information, benefiting investors and fostering transparency across Kenyan markets.
Kenyan firms will from 2027 be able to directly compare the performance of their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives with other companies globally as the country moves to adopt reporting under a common standard worldwide.
The country has initiated a plan to adopt the sustainability reporting under the International Financial Reporting Standards two (IFRS S2), designed to make public disclosures uniform, transparent, and easy to compare globally.
The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) has set January 1, 2027, as the commencement date for the mandatory adoption of the sustainability reporting under the IFRS.
Under the plan, in phase one that …
- Waste Management in Uganda is beset with the same challenges that most developing countries face.
- Tree Adoption Uganda (TAU) is a youth-based non-governmental organization that operates as a non-profit.
- WasteAid expanded its reach into Uganda earlier this year, launching programs to support a more robust circular economy and address the country’s growing waste problem.
Waste Management Challenges in Uganda
Waste Management in Uganda is beset with the same challenges that most developing countries face. Rapid urbanisation, a growing population, and limited resources have overexerted legacy waste disposal systems.
Urban waste collection in Uganda is 600,000 tons, of which 40 percent is collected while the remaining 60 percent is dumped in open areas, water bodies, or informal dumps. The uncollected waste leads to environmental degradation and poses serious health risks.
In addition, poor infrastructure, a lack of investment, and low community interest in proper waste disposal create a perfect …
- As COP29 starts in Baku, Azerbaijan, African nations are set to drive the climate agenda, focusing on climate finance and redefining economic metrics to recognize the continent’s green assets.
- Africa’s ‘green wealth’ push seeks to quantify Africa’s contributions to global environmental health, valuing its vast carbon sinks, natural resources, and ecosystems.
- This initiative, led by the AfDB in an alliance with the Republic of Congo and Kenya, could reshape Africa’s economic standing.
The annual United Nations climate conference, COP29, opens with a strong emphasis on climate finance, especially for developing nations that bear a disproportionate burden of climate change impacts.
At the forefront, African nations are pushing for increased funding and support, which is essential to advancing their National Adaptation Plans and Nationally Determined Contributions as outlined in the Paris Agreement.
This year, Africa, represented by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and a coalition of governments, is …
- In Africa, climate resilience is limited due to socio-economic vulnerabilities and limited adaptive capacity.
- The UNEP report calls for an accelerated increase in adaptation efforts and finance to address the mounting risks, particularly in developing nations.
- In 2022, adaptation finance for developing countries rose to $28 billion, a far cry from the $187-$359 billion per year required to bridge the gap by 2030.
As the global climate crisis intensifies, the impacts are hitting vulnerable regions hardest, with Africa bearing the brunt of devastating consequences.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Adaptation Gap Report 2024, average global temperatures will rise by 2.6-3.1°C above pre-industrial levels by the century’s end, far exceeding the 1.5°C threshold agreed upon in the Paris Agreement.
This rise in temperature translates to increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and heat waves. These impacts are currently felt acutely in …
