Africa has been losing 5 percent to 15 percent of GDP per capita due to climate change, according to the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Acting Chief Economist and Vice President Kevin Urama.

“We have been losing 5% to 15% of GDP per capita growth in Africa because of climate change, and that is in addition to other issues that climate change is driving on the continent,” Urama said. “Amid these difficulties lie opportunities for innovation. Let’s think big, act big, and save the planet,” said Urama

“As we prepare for COP 27, honoring the 2009 $100 billion yearly climate finance commitment that high-income countries promised to developing countries will help to restore confidence that we are serious about climate change, even though it is not enough,” Urama added.

In a presentation on the report, Acting Chief Economist Urama called for policy coordination and a more holistic approach to tackling climate change.

These utterances came during an event to discuss the AfDB’s African Economic Outlook 2022 hosted by the Atlantic Council, with shedding light on the highest priority attention that Africa deserves to attract during the United Nations climate conference, COP 27 to be held in November 2022.  The 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the UNFCCC will be held from 6 to 18 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

This AfDB’s report falls under the theme, “Supporting Climate Resilience and a Just Energy Transition in Africa” and highlights climate change as a growing threat to lives and livelihoods in Africa. 

In a video message during one of the sessions, president and Chief Executive Officer of  Bezos Earth Fund, Andrew Steer however urged African and world leaders to think bolder and work more creatively together as they prepare for COP 27.

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