GEO-6 Regional Assessment for Africa
Air pollution is fast becoming an important human health, economic and development issue for Africa, especially in high-density urban areas such as slums. The continent’s anthropogenic emissions and organic carbon emissions are on the increase from forest fires, vehicles, domestic fires and industry emissions. Africa also has enormous opportunities for carbon sequestration through restoration, regeneration and reforestation.
Demand for freshwater is increasing with rising population and economic development, although this resource is under threat from pollution and climate change. While some progress has been made in improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Africa remains plagued with water- borne diseases such as cholera. Ill-defined rights and access to water as well as competition for water resources is driving prices and local-level conflicts, with impacts on freshwater- dependent economic activities such as agriculture and electricity generation. Cooperation at the national and regional levels and between sectors and technology is considered an important intervention for the sustainable management of water resources in the region.
Marine, ocean and coastal resources support a growing proportion of economic and livelihood options, including fisheries, oil and gas, and transportation. The resources are key assets for resilience against climate change and variability. However, Africa’s marine and coastal resources are under increasing threat from pollution, unregulated economic development and climate change.
With 131 billion barrels of oil, 17 trillion cubic metres of natural gas and 120 million tonnes of proven coal reserves (UNEP 2014), Africa’s energy landscape is dominated by fossil fuels. The region’s prospective solar and hydropower is also huge, with only 10 per cent of potential hydropower capacity currently being harnessed (OECD/IEA 2014). Despite such huge energy resources, 620 million people have no access to electricity (UNEP 2014). As Figure 1.1.4 shows, electricity coverage in the region is very low: about 60 per cent of people do not have access to a reliable source of energy (AfDB 2014). The region has a major opportunity
18
to develop and scale-up renewable and more sustainable forms of energy, although significant challenges remain with regard to pricing and subsidies.
Africa’s social and economic infrastructure is vulnerable to climate change. Natural capital is a critical part of building resilience and increasing adaptive capacity. There is a need to address climate justice, legal frameworks and the cost of inaction, and to improve knowledge, particularly in the area of climate science and early warning systems. The region needs to build adaptive capacity to climate change, including strengthening preparedness and decoupling growth from carbon emissions.
economic
The frequency and intensity of extreme events such as floods and droughts is increasing, with impacts on natural capital and social and economic infrastructure. Lack of institutional robustness is exacerbating the spread and impact of disease. Increased levels of movement of communities and a high density of informal settlements put Africa at risk. Human- based approaches to early warnings, including the use of traditional knowledge, are often looked down on.
Africa faces varied and complex waste management problems. Waste is typically disposed of without consideration of environmental and human health impacts, leading to its accumulation. Dumpsites are largely uncontrolled or poorly managed. Hazardous and non-hazardous wastes are often disposed of together. Typically, only about 40–50 per cent of waste is reportedly collected (UNEP 2013).
1.3 Emerging issues and Africa’s ecological future
Africa is increasingly asserting its role as a global player while simultaneously lifting millions of citizens out of poverty (WWF/AfDB 2015). The region’s demographic dynamics and urbanization trends present a mixed picture of challenges and opportunities, and factoring of these social phenomena into a structural transformation agenda for
Africa is
important. The region is witnessing increased access to data and information, although much more needs to be done.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215