Climate and environmental issues, food security and health
Climate change and the degradation of natural environments and loss of biodiversity have already had a visible effect on African food production and local employment. It exacerbates food insecurity, increases the disease burden, adds to instability and triggers migration, undermining the economic and social progress that has been achieved.
The way in which African countries deal with such challenges will have significance across the globe. While Africa itself has contributed only 2–3 % of the world’s aggregate greenhouse gas emissions, the continent is the most vulnerable to climate change, and there is a widespread need for climate change adaptation. Increased support for adaptation and compensation for loss and damage are among the key demands from African countries in international climate negotiations. A substantial proportion of the world’s most valuable intact ecosystems, including the world’s second-largest rainforest, are found on the African continent. With 38 coastal countries, Africa has a major role to play in promoting sustainable ocean management. Waste and hazardous substances pose a threat to safe food production and human health. Growing urbanisation exerts further pressure on the environment.
The vital role of environmental issues in African social and economic development is reflected in the growing focus of the AU and the African countries on drawing up regional and national strategies, and a steadily increasing international engagement. UN Headquarters, the UN Environment Programme in Nairobi, the AU, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment and the African Climate Summit are all crucial regional arenas for cooperation.
Norway’s shared interests with African countries have led to broad-based engagement and cooperation on climate, the environment, forests and oceans, which are becoming increasingly important. Norwegian companies and technologies have much to offer in relation to the blue economy and ecosystem-based marine management and monitoring. Climate change adaptation and preservation of rainforests are Norwegian priorities that directly address the vulnerability of African countries to climate change. The positions taken by African countries will help set the stage in the global efforts needed to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement and achieve the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Close cooperation will be needed to fulfil international climate and environmental commitments.
Norway and Tanzania have entered into a strategic bilateral climate partnership that consolidates efforts related to food security, health, renewable energy and natural resource management. Access to local knowledge is crucial, and cooperation between Norwegian and Tanzanian research institutions and other expert communities is a key component of the partnership.
Food security challenges on the African continent are growing. African countries have much of the world’s cultivable land, with great potential to ensure economic value creation, create jobs, alleviate hunger and feed a growing population. More sustainable production and more resilient, sustainable local value chains can benefit the climate, the environment and food security. The use of aquatic food can supplement land-based food production and help to reduce the climate footprint. It is in our common interest to promote efforts to fully realise the potential for food security, and in the process help to prevent conflict, extremism, crime and social unrest. Norway gives priority to efforts to improve food security in African countries that emphasise preparedness, self-sufficiency, climate change adaptation, climate-resilient food production, soil health, stronger value chains and better mobilisation of civil society organisations and the private sector.
The second largest tropical forest in the world is in Central Africa. Preserving it is critical to safeguard regional rainfall patterns and meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. The main drivers of deforestation are small-scale agriculture and charcoal production, with poverty and rapid population growth as the key underlying causes. Initiated by Norway, the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) is a collaboration of 10 donor countries and 6 forest countries. The initiative enters into agreements with forest countries to reduce deforestation and promote sustainable development practices.
Africa’s geography and climate in combination with the impacts of climate change, conflict, poverty and inequality result in a high burden of disease on the continent. This, together with the rapid pace of population growth, places new demands on health services. The COVID-19 pandemic, rising antimicrobial resistance and humanitarian crises have shown the importance of an integrated approach in international cooperation to build resilient health care systems, ensure adequate crisis preparedness and crisis response systems and implement the One Health perspective, which recognises the interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental health. Cooperation in the research and knowledge sectors is crucial to understanding changes in disease patterns and the risks of cross-contagion and interaction between humans, animals and plants. Good health across a population is essential to economic and social development. The risk of new pandemics underscores the importance of strengthening global, African and Norwegian health preparedness. The AU and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) are spearheading efforts to prepare for future health crises on the continent while ensuring the establishment of sustainable, climate-resilient health systems. The inclusion of African knowledge and expertise is of great importance in global cooperation on health issues, as well as on issues relating to the environment, climate change, the oceans and food security.
Norway has been a predictable, long-term investor and progressive force in global health efforts. Cooperation between institutions is important in order to exchange knowledge and experience. Several Norwegian actors have established institutional cooperation with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and other African partners to expand institutional and professional capacity and create opportunities for knowledge exchange. Such activities enhance public health for all the parties involved, and better equip all of us to address future global health challenges.
The impacts of climate change on food security and health hit women, children and marginalised groups the hardest, and can exacerbate social inequality. It is important to seek an integrated gender perspective with inclusive solutions that emphasise gender equality and the role that women and marginalised groups have to play in health care, food production and the green transition.
Objective: Strengthened cooperation on climate, the environment, food security and health
Priorities for strengthening cooperation in this area:
International forums: Norway will further develop cooperation with African countries in international forums and strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation on the environment, climate change and the protection and sustainable use of the world’s oceans. Norway will work to strengthen the UN Headquarters in Nairobi as a centre for multilateral cooperation on the environment and climate.
Climate change adaptation and emissions reductions: Norway will contribute to efforts to promote climate-resilient, low-emission development, increased climate change adaptation and greater resilience in line with national climate and biodiversity targets. Norway will continue to strengthen cooperation on ocean-related issues with relevant countries. It will also work to ensure that African countries have sufficient access to funding from global funds and financing mechanisms. Cooperation to preserve existing rainforests will be continued. To increase access of African countries to financing, technology and expertise, Norway will support funding schemes that encourage increased private-sector investment.
Biodiversity: Norway will assess priorities for strengthening cooperation to preserve biodiversity and restore land areas in African countries with a focus on capacity building, environmental monitoring, land-use planning and sustainable management of wilderness and marine areas. Norway will also work to ensure that urbanisation in African countries is sustainable and provides secure livelihoods both in and outside of urban centres, with a focus on local supply chains.
Food security: Norway will work to enhance climate-resilient local food production, improve soil health, increase local value creation, reduce malnutrition and undernutrition and prevent hunger by promoting sustainable food systems.
Health: Norway will cooperate with African countries and regional institutions to build and strengthen resilient national health systems that can withstand the impacts of climate change and other environmental change, promote universal health care coverage and improve primary health care services. Norway will also work to increase African representation on the boards, councils and management teams of global health organisations and initiatives.