Africa is endowed with essential minerals like lithium, cobalt, and graphite, crucial for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and smartphones. These resources position Africa as a key player in the technological evolution era. The UK's Critical Minerals Strategy acknowledges the growing importance of these minerals in enhancing energy security and industrial resilience, especially in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the global shift from volatile and costly fossil fuels. By 2040, the demand for critical minerals for clean energy technologies is anticipated to quadruple from current levels. The 2020 World Bank Report on "Minerals for Climate Action: The Mineral Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition" highlights that ambitious climate initiatives will significantly increase the demand for these critical minerals. Consequently, partnership arrangements for exploring critical minerals are being established, with the European Union forming critical mineral partnerships with countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

The 2023 Africa Sustainable Development Report highlights uneven progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives outlined in Agenda 2063, "The Africa We Want," by the African Union. This inconsistency is observed across different subregions, countries, and between rural and urban areas. A major hurdle identified is the limited access to clean water and sanitation. Although there has been a consistent improvement in access to safe drinking water and electricity, poverty rates are expected to increase until 2030, with a significant portion of the population facing food insecurity and inadequate sanitation. The report also points out persistent disparities in wealth and gender, affecting income equality.

Nevertheless, the report highlights numerous areas for enhancement. Among these is the complete implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which has the potential to serve as a catalyst for industrial growth via intra-regional trade, thereby elevating millions from poverty and diminishing disparities. The report emphasizes the importance of accessing private sector investment for comprehensive catchment infrastructure to strengthen climate adaptability and foster collaborations for managing transboundary water resources. Additionally, advancing sanitation would benefit from synergising with other Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets to facilitate resource mobilisation.

Africa faces significant challenges in achieving universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy by 2030, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). The continent is rich in renewable energy resources, especially solar and hydropower, highlighting the importance of transitioning to renewable energy. Despite this potential, investment in renewable energy infrastructure is insufficient, with many communities still relying on traditional fuels like biomass and fossil fuels. The expansion of renewables is crucial not only for reliable energy and climate protection but also for economic development and providing essential services such as healthcare and safe drinking water.

The African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) reports that although Africa has a strong starting point for transforming its energy sector, progress is hindered by low investment levels. The continent continues to invest in fossil fuel energy, finding itself at a crossroads between leveraging its natural resources and adopting clean energy solutions. During a panel discussion at Addleshaw Goddard on "Achieving Africa's Sustainability Goals," experts emphasized that one global solution does not fit all for Africa. It was argued that solutions effective in other regions might not be suitable for Africa, highlighting the need for tailored approaches. One speaker noted the importance of balance, stating it would be unethical to restrict Africa from using its natural resources. The transition to clean energy should be managed responsibly, considering that parts of Africa's development have not contributed to the climate crisis and do not face emission issues. The focus should be on ensuring energy affordability, which is essential for supporting other SDG goals.

Africa is making progress towards developing the necessary legal framework and regulatory framework to achieve sustainability goals, although the pace and scope is uneven. However, the effectiveness and implementation of these frameworks differ widely due to various challenges such as political will, financial constraints and capacity limitations. South Africa has the Integrated Resource Plan that aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix. It has launched a national framework for sustainable development setting out South Africa's vision for sustainable development to integrate sustainability as a key component of the development discourse. Kenya on the other hand has a Climate Change Act that provides a legal framework for climate action and sustainability initiatives. Rwanda in its Vision 2050 and Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy aim to transform Rwanda into a developed, climate-resilient and low-carbon economy by 2050. Stock exchanges in countries like Botswana, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya are incorporating sustainability reporting requirements for listed companies. At regional level the Africa Unions' Agenda 2063 outlines a strategic framework for sustainable development across the continent.

The path to achieving sustainability goals in Africa is fraught with complexity, necessitating a multifaceted approach to overcome inherent challenges. The continent's sustainable development is contingent upon addressing these obstacles head-on, with international collaboration playing a pivotal role in this endeavour. A significant hurdle remains, the need for substantial investment in renewable energy infrastructure and technology, which is critical for Africa's sustainable future. Noteworthy are the efforts to foster investment partnerships between development financial institutions and commercial banks within Africa, aimed at projects that propel sustainability forward. Furthermore, technology transfer and capacity building are vital in closing the resource gap, ensuring that Africa can fully leverage its potential.

The Conference of the Parties (COP) summits have consistently underscored the importance of increased commitment from developed nations to support Africa in achieving its sustainability objectives. Despite the daunting challenges, opportunities abound for Africa to realise its sustainability ambitions, particularly by tapping into its vast renewable energy resources. The AfCFTA presents another avenue for promoting sustainable economic growth through enhanced intra-African trade facilitated by harmonised trade regulations. Ultimately, political stability and effective governance will be paramount in ensuring the successful implementation and longevity of sustainability initiatives across the continent.

• There is a move in Africa towards aligning with the sustainability disclosure standards. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has partnered with the IFRS Foundation to advance sustainability disclosure practices in Africa. 
• AfDB will engage financial institutions, regulators and policy makers to develop knowledge and capabilities for effective sustainability disclosure in compliance with the international Sustainability Standard Boards (ISSB) standards to support investor decision-making.
• AfDB will collaborate with IFRS Foundation to develop training materials suitable for use on the African context.

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• Is Africa at cross-roads between the choice for economic growth and safeguarding the environment?
• Even though Africa contributes less to global greenhouse gas emissions, it is significantly impacted by environmental challenges, including droughts, floods, and potential crop failures. Green technologies, although developed and implemented in more developed nations, remain prohibitively expensive.
• Many people in Africa still lack access to energy, fundamental for economic development despite abundance of solar resources. The absence of an efficient and affordable energy grid to store and distribute the generated solar energy remains a challenge.
• The question arises whether the objectives of sustainable development, aimed at benefiting future generations, are at odds with the pursuit of economic growth in Africa, or whether they can be mutually supportive. For countries endowed with fossil fuels, is forsaking this potentially lucrative source of income in favour of environmental protection condemning them to a cycle of underdevelopment? Or is it possible to exploit these resources with minimal environmental impact?
• Could the answer lie in innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence and the likes of keyhole mining or a bespoke model of sustainability for Africa?

This article tackles some of these fundamental questions particularly for commodity rich African countries. Read the full article here >

• There is significant enthusiasm among African communities to tackle the climate crisis, yet the reality is that Africa led solutions will need strong partners.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help crystallise the solutions.
• Microsoft is expanding its AL for Good Lab to Africa and investing in innovative solutions through their Climate Innovation Fund.
• In Kenya, Microsoft has formed local collaborations to establish a data centre campus powered by renewable geothermal energy and equipped with water-saving technologies.
• In Nigeria through the Climate Innovation Fund, Microsoft has invested in a project to transport renewable energy from a hydro power plant to facilities in Kaduna State. In Cape Town, it is collaborating with the Nature Conservancy on a water replenishment project.

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• Despite agriculture's significant contribution to Africa's economy, its farming practices lack sustainability.
• Sustainability in Agriculture and food production in Africa can be achieved by leveraging the benefits of AfCFTA focusing on social impact, economic impact, environmental impact, technology innovation and collaboration between food systems and stakeholders.
• Maximising the opportunities presented by AfCFTA would require putting farmer's livelihoods first, especially smallholder farmers, in all decision-making processes.

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