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COVID-19 in Africa: Turning Economic Crisis into an Opportunity for Sustainable Growth | 24. Juni 2020

24. June 2020 | 17:00 - 18:00 CEST

The COVID-19 pandemic poses many challenges for Africa. The virus has caused tremendous unemployment and economic downturn, and it has shown the number of vulnerabilities associated with dependency on raw materials, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the current crisis is also an opportunity for green recovery and conscious investments in renewable energies moving forward.

Forging a way out of this crisis with economies that are based primarily on raw materials and fossil fuel production will most certainly only result in the aggravation of the effects of other global health problems and natural disasters. On the contrary, investing in renewables would allow for greater self-reliance, enabling countries to take control of their economic prospects – and thus lead to better health for the poorest and most vulnerable people.

To what extent has COVID-19 impacted African economies and how should a climate-friendly and sustainable restart look like after the pandemic? What strategies do African governments and the private sector need to implement to ensure a sustainable growth moving forward? And what are the expectations towards the European Union and the international community as to supporting this important transition?

We look forward to discuss these and further important questions with Prof. Carlos Lopes, High Representative of the African Union and one of Africa’s most influential economists, and Prof. Dr Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency and internationally renowned expert on sustainable development and climate change.

Program

Welcome                                     
Dr Ingrid Hamm                           
Co-Founder & CEO of the Global Perspectives Initiative

Discussion
Prof. Carlos Lopes

High Representative of the African Union for Partnerships with Europe & Professor in the Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town; former Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

Prof. Dr Dirk Messner
President of the German Environment Agency (UBA); former Director of the United Nations University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and of the German Development Institute (DIE)

Moderation
Christine Mhundwa
Journalist at Deutsche Welle (DW)

 

To join the discussion kindly RSVP via email at rsvp@globalperspectives.org

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Details

Date:
24. June 2020
Time:
17:00 - 18:00 CEST
Event Category:
Website:
https://mailchi.mp/a633c9bed59f/vvurp4krj7-6442912?e=0f48782e0c

Venue

Zoom Webinar

Organizer

Global Perspectives Initiative