African Nations Urged to Embrace Green Economy for Sustainable Prosperity
Prof. Damilola Olawuyi, Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, delivered a passionate call to African nations at the second African Business and Human Rights Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The forum, titled “For Africa, From Africa,” united leaders, experts, businesses, civil society, and academia to discuss fostering ethical practices across all economic sectors.
Olawuyi emphasized the urgency of embracing sustainable prosperity to accelerate and maximize the green economy in Africa. He stressed that with less than seven years left to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the global focus has shifted towards establishing legal and institutional frameworks that promote green growth and nature-based economic development.
The green economy approach highlights environmental protection, resource efficiency, conservation, and decarbonization as vital tools for economic growth and development. Olawuyi underscored the significance of this approach, stating that it presents a remarkable opportunity for governments in Africa to attract green investments, as investors worldwide seek new hubs for sustainable opportunities.
While commending Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya for their adoption of national action plans on business and human rights, Olawuyi called for unwavering political will to drive these initiatives successfully. His message resonates with the broader global effort to transition towards environmentally responsible and sustainable economic practices.
