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

The policy brief outlines a framework for cooperation between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) to leverage green transitions for sustainable growth and climate resilience. It identifies six key areas for action: energy transitions, the circular economy, trade, agricultural adaptation, climate diplomacy, and financial instruments. The authors emphasize that while the EU aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, African priorities focus on poverty reduction and adaptation. The brief recommends that the EU avoid creating new trade barriers, such as carbon border taxes for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and instead invest in green infrastructure, sustainable waste management, and grant-based adaptation funding to ensure a socially inclusive transition.

• The EU and AU have divergent perspectives on green transitions: 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 contributed little to climate change but suffer severe consequences.
• Energy cooperation should focus on three areas: increasing electricity access via decentralized solar energy, supporting the transition away from fossil fuels to avoid '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.
• The European Green Deal may create new non-tariff trade barriers, such as carbon border taxes or high environmental standards; the authors recommend exempting products from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to prevent economic burdens.
• Climate adaptation in agriculture is a critical but underfunded area; there is a need for more scientific research to translate climate-smart agriculture solutions into practical applications for farmers and increased funding for adaptation.
• Current AU-EU climate diplomacy is hindered by overlapping and competing frameworks; the authors propose a single, comprehensive AU-EU climate strategy with a strategic long-term plan.
• Existing financial instruments are insufficient for the Green Deal's global ambitions; the EU should mobilize additional resources, increase grant-based adaptation funding for LDCs, and use carbon border adjustment proceeds to help African industries reduce carbon intensity.

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} }