Green transitions in Africa-Europe relations: what role for the European Green Deal?

This policy brief examines how the European Green Deal can foster cooperation between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) across six priority areas: energy transitions, circular economy, trade, agricultural adaptation, climate diplomacy, and financial instruments. It emphasizes the need to align EU ambitions with African priorities, such as poverty reduction and climate adaptation, while avoiding the creation of new trade barriers for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

• The EU and AU approach green transitions from different perspectives: the EU focuses on becoming a carbon-neutral continent by 2050, while the AU's Agenda 2063 prioritizes poverty reduction and climate adaptation, reflecting the fact that African countries have contributed little to climate change but are severely affected by it.
• Energy cooperation should focus on three avenues: increasing electricity access via decentralized solar energy, supporting the transition of fossil-fuel-dependent African economies to avoid 'fossil-fuel lock-ins', and shifting trade from fossil fuels to green energy, prioritizing African domestic demand and regional power pools.
• A comprehensive circular economy could create green jobs and growth, but requires the EU to address the export of electronic waste to Africa by revising regulations and promoting sustainable recycling and remanufacturing facilities in Africa that meet health and environmental standards.
• The European Green Deal may introduce non-tariff barriers, such as a carbon border tax, which could negatively impact trade. The document recommends exempting products from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and ensuring African stakeholders are involved in new trade regulations.
• In the agricultural sector, there is a gap between scientific research on climate-smart agriculture and practical application for farmers. The EU is urged to prioritize adaptation finance and technology transfer to ensure new sustainability standards, like the Farm-to-Fork Strategy, do not become barriers for African exporters.
• Current climate diplomacy is hindered by overlapping and competing frameworks. The authors propose consolidating these into a single AU-EU climate strategy with a long-term plan, focusing on sustainable food systems, sustainable energy, and the blue economy.
• Existing financial instruments for climate mitigation and adaptation are insufficient. The brief suggests using carbon border adjustment proceeds to help African industries reduce carbon intensity and increasing grant-based adaptation funding for LDCs.

APA

Webmaster (2021). Green transitions in Africa-Europe relations: what role for the European Green Deal? African Center for Economic Transformation. https://acetforafrica.org/research-and-analysis/insights-ideas/policy-briefs/green-transitions-in-africa-europe-relations-what-role-for-the-european-green-deal/

Chicago

Webmaster. Green transitions in Africa-Europe relations: what role for the European Green Deal? African Center for Economic Transformation, 2021. https://acetforafrica.org/research-and-analysis/insights-ideas/policy-briefs/green-transitions-in-africa-europe-relations-what-role-for-the-european-green-deal/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Webmaster |title=Green transitions in Africa-Europe relations: what role for the European Green Deal? |publisher=African Center for Economic Transformation |date=10 April 2021 |url=https://acetforafrica.org/research-and-analysis/insights-ideas/policy-briefs/green-transitions-in-africa-europe-relations-what-role-for-the-european-green-deal/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{webmaster2021green, author = {Webmaster}, title = {{Green transitions in Africa-Europe relations: what role for the European Green Deal?}}, institution = {African Center for Economic Transformation}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://acetforafrica.org/research-and-analysis/insights-ideas/policy-briefs/green-transitions-in-africa-europe-relations-what-role-for-the-european-green-deal/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }