Plenary Session V: Dr. Julius Ecuru, Climate Action and Bioeconomy Transition as Key Elements of the Post- Malabo Agenda

Dr. Julius Ecuru, Principal Scientist and Manager, Research Innovation Coordination
Units, BioInnovate Africa, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

Transcript

1. Principal Scientist/Manager for BioInnovate Africa, ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya Co-Authors: Moumini Savadogo, Debisi Araba Climate Action and Bioeconomy Transition in Post Malabo CAADP Julius Ecuru
2. #2024ReSAKSS #2024ATOR Introduction • Background • Clarifying bioeconomy & related concepts Green economy, circular economy, blue economy • Integrated approach • Bioeconomy – climate, biodiversity, resource use, consumption. • Malabo Montpellier Panel (2022),other scholars - bioeconomy contributes to SDGs
3. #2024ReSAKSS #2024ATOR Bioeconomy in Africa – Continental level • Agenda 2063, Aspiration 1. • Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (2023–2033) of Agenda 2063 recognizes the potential of biotechnology for sustainable food systems and industrial development. • AU’s climate resilience and green recovery strategies (2022–2032) - AU Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022)
4. #2024ReSAKSS #2024ATOR Bioeconomy in Africa – Regional level • The East Africa Community Vision 2050 and the East African Regional Bioeconomy Strategy 2021/22–2031/32 • Economic Community of West African States Regional Climate Strategy and Action Plan (2022–2030). • The ECOWAS Regional Climate Strategy and Action Plan 2022–2030 • SADC Vision 2050, published in 2020 • Economic Community of Central African States vision and strategic plan (2021–2025)
5. #2024ReSAKSS #2024ATOR Nairobi Declaration • Scaling renewable energy across the continent. • Agriculture and forestry as carbon sinks • Regenerative blue economy esp Africa’s Island States • Increasing continental collaboration through trade, technology transfer.
6. #2024ReSAKSS #2024ATOR Implications for Africa’s bioeconomy • Policy • Incentives – tax reliefs, • Enforce bans, while providing sustainable alternatives. • Regulatory standards, where they are needed. • Financing • climate funds, biodiversity funds, or industrial development funds • Larger companies taking interest in biobased innovations, etc. • R&D investment to increase pipeline, especially in universities, and public research institutes. • Skills • Skills sets for bioeconomy • Increasing continental collaboration through trade, technology transfer.
7. #2024ReSAKSS #2024ATOR Conclusion • The bioeconomy is a growth pathway for the future. • Africa, which has significantly lower carbon emissions than other regions, has a competitive advantage in developing a sustainable bioeconomy. • Like EAC which has developed a dedicated, regional bioeconomy strategy, other regional economic blocks can do the same. • When the bioeconomy strategies of the regions are put together, they would reflect a true African bioeconomy.
8. THANK YOU