African Wildlife Foundation CEO highlights Africa’s role in addressing climate change, global health, and sustainable development
During his compelling presentation at Salzburg Global Seminar, Kaddu Sebunya, CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), delivered a thought-provoking message on the importance of recognizing Africa’s diversity, immense ecological value, and its pivotal role in addressing sustainability challenges. He urged the global community to move beyond viewing Africa as a continent that needs help, instead emphasizing its complexity and potential to shape the planet's future.
Africa: A Diverse and Expansive Continent
Kaddu began by challenging common misconceptions about Africa, often portrayed as if it were one country. "Africa is a continent of 54 independent countries, over 2,200 distinct cultures, and a vast range of languages," he said. He highlighted Africa’s size, noting how it can accommodate the entirety of Western Europe, North and South America, China, and India. "This vastness, combined with its cultural and environmental diversity, makes Africa a unique player in global sustainability," Kaddu noted.
He underscored that Africa offers unparalleled natural value, contributing to inclusive global growth and addressing critical challenges like climate change and global health. He credited the lifestyles of the continent's 1.2 billion people for largely preserving the world's richest biodiversity bank. "Inadvertently, Africa has become a steward of the largest biodiversity wealth on the planet," Kaddu observed.
Population Growth: A Double-Edged Sword
Kaddu pointed out that Africa’s population increased nearly fivefold in the past six decades, rising from 283 million in 1960 to over 1.5 billion today, matching China’s population. By 2050, Africa is projected to have 2.5 billion people, comprising more than 25% of the global population. "Four in ten young people on Earth will be African. This is not just an African challenge—this is a global issue," he noted.
He stressed the need for the global community to pay close attention to Africa’s development choices. "The demands of this population growth will inevitably put pressure on Africa's land, water, and energy resources. Yet, these same resources are crucial for the entire planet’s survival."
Africa’s Role in Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity Conservation
A key theme of his presentation was the critical role Africa’s natural resources play in mitigating climate change. He pointed out that 70% of global carbon sequestration occurs in tropical regions, and Africa’s forests, particularly the Congo Basin, are instrumental in this effort. "The Congo Basin, the world’s second green lung, absorbs 4% of global carbon emissions annually, offsetting more than the entire African continent's emissions," Kaddu explained. He highlighted how this 4% absorption rate is equivalent to the emissions of Germany, Turkey, and Italy combined.
Kaddu’s message was clear: protecting Africa’s ecosystems is not just an African responsibility but a global imperative. He emphasized that "the question we must ask ourselves is how Africa can continue to maintain and protect these resources for the benefit of the world."
The Rise of China and Africa’s Economic Future
Kaddu also addressed China's growing influence in Africa, noting that China has become Africa’s most important economic partner over the past two decades. Trade between Africa and China has been growing at a rate of 20% annually since 2018, and Chinese investments in Africa’s industrial sector have skyrocketed.
However, he also highlighted the need for caution, "China’s investment model is shifting from merely extracting raw materials to establishing production capacity. This deepening relationship calls for African governments and international actors to think strategically about long-term development and sustainability."
Kaddu highlighted the complexities of Africa’s complicated relationship with China. While substantial Chinese investments in Africa have significantly benefited the continent’s economy, this growth has come at the cost of rising debt levels and concerns over local job displacement.
He noted that the political urgency in many African nations often leads to hasty financial decisions aimed at meeting short-term goals, which can have long-term consequences. Politicians, pressured by electoral cycles, may resort to short-term borrowing with the hope of immediate gains, often overlooking the long-term implications.
According to Kaddu, African countries should explore alternative sources of credit for financial expenditures, as many currently borrow at very high rates globally. This challenge is further exacerbated by the fact that a substantial portion—24%—of national budgets in East African countries is allocated to servicing debt owed to China. This financial burden, Kaddu suggested, might be alleviated more effectively if China considered debt-for-nature swaps rather than merely extending payment deadlines.
On the other hand, vital sectors like education receive less than 8% of national budgets, which hinders long-term development. In addition to putting pressure on economic stability, this imbalance undercuts initiatives to invest in human capital, which is crucial for long-term prosperity and sustainable growth.
Africa’s Emerging Middle Class: A Tipping Point
Kaddu delved into the significance of Africa’s growing middle class, which is now larger than the entire population of the United States. As incomes rise, Africa’s consumption patterns will have significant global implications. "The choices Africa makes—whether to embrace sustainable consumption or follow the high-consumption paths of the past—will shape the world’s environmental and economic future," he said.
With the rapid rise in demand for cars, energy, and goods, he warned that how Africa grows will matter immensely, "What will Africa use for energy? How will food be grown? How will goods be transported? These are all critical questions the world must engage with, as Africa’s choices will reverberate globally."
The Call to Action: Global Collaboration for a Sustainable Future
As he wrapped up, Kaddu left the audience with a lasting thought: "We have borrowed much from future generations, but Africa’s growth presents an opportunity to repay that debt by choosing a path that ensures a prosperous and sustainable world."
The global community must recognize Africa’s pivotal role in solving pressing global challenges and partner with Africa to secure a prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for all.
Kaddu Sebunya is the CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation in Kenya. He has over 25 years of experience in conservation at grassroots, national, and regional levels in the US, Africa, and Europe. He has worked with Oxfam UK, the World Conservation Union - IUCN, USA Peace Corps, Conservation International, and Solimar International. Kaddu works to empower African voices to re-imagine the conservation narrative and rally the continent’s elite to lead the fight against the destruction of valuable habitats and wildlife.
