A webinar organised by IDDRI and the European Think Tanks Group (ETTG)
Replay
Climate change and the green agenda are top priorities for both the African and the European continent. This has been clearly spelled out in the EU Comprehensive Strategy with Africa (March 2020) and in the African Union’s Climate Change Strategy (to be published soon). It can be assumed that these topics will be at the center of the upcoming EU-AU Summit scheduled in October 2020.
Meanwhile, as the Covid-19 crisis erupted and has had important health and socio-economic impacts, this may have important implications on climate change, green transition, sustainable energy and food security agendas.
The aim of this webinar is to propose an in-depth exploration of the possible impacts of the Covid-19 crisis on greener and climate-friendly economies in both Europe and Africa:
- Has Covid-19 made it more difficult or easier to work on a green transition and sustainable energy access?
- What can be expected from the African Union’s Climate Change Strategy and what will be the key areas of convergence and divergence with the priorities of the EU as set out in the Green Deal? How will Africa be able to reconcile its ambitions to restore economic growth, create value chains, development and jobs with the transition towards green economies?
- What role could and should the EU play in supporting this complex transition process?
Format
90-minute session, consisting of: introduction by the moderator; 30-minute insights by the speakers; and Q&A, with questions from the moderator as well as from the audience; wrap-up.
Participants
Moderator: Christine Hackenesch, DIE (German Development Institute)
Introductory remarks: Geert Laporte, Director of ETTG (European Think Tanks Group)
Panellists:
- Youba Sokona, Special Advisor for Sustainable Development at South Centre and IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Vice-Chair
- Carla Montesi, Director for Planet and Prosperity Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, European Commission
- Jean-Paul Adam, Director, Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resource Management Division at United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
Closing remarks: Sébastien Treyer, Director, IDDRI
