Navigating the Opportunities and Risks of the European Green Deal for Africa

This briefing examines the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for African nations, identifying opportunities and risks across seven key sectors. It provides strategic recommendations for both EU and African policymakers to ensure the transition supports Africa's development priorities and moves the EU-Africa relationship toward a mutually beneficial partnership.

• The European Green Deal (EGD), adopted by the European Commission on July 14, 2021, aims to make Europe a leader in international climate policy with a primary goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent from 1990 levels by 2030.
• The EGD presents opportunities and risks for Africa in seven specific areas: finance, new technologies, circular economy, critical raw materials (CRMs), energy, biodiversity, and agriculture.
• To benefit from the EGD, the EU should establish genuine partnerships for energy and CRM sourcing by localizing value chains and building industrial capacity. For example, battery and solar photovoltaic manufacturing could be established in mineral-rich nations like the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the EU reduces reliance on Chinese supply chains.
• The briefing recommends that EU climate financing to Africa be provided as grants or at highly concessional rates to prevent unsustainable debt, and that it be distinct from official development assistance. Furthermore, financing should shift its current heavy emphasis on climate mitigation toward climate adaptation and resilience.
• African policymakers are advised to assert their own climate transition agendas, which include updating geological surveys to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and capture a share of the estimated 75.6 billion euros ($90 billion) in investments for green hydrogen supplies to Europe.
• There are significant research gaps regarding the EGD's impact on Africa, specifically the need to model the effects of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on merchandise, oil, gas, and agricultural exports to the EU, and the need to conceptualize a 'just transition' tailored to African realities.

APA

Usman, Z., & Ituen, I. (2021). Navigating the Opportunities and Risks of the European Green Deal for Africa. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/navigating-the-opportunities-and-risks-of-the-european-green-deal-for-africa

Chicago

Usman, Zainab, and Imeh Ituen. Navigating the Opportunities and Risks of the European Green Deal for Africa. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2021. https://afripoli.org/navigating-the-opportunities-and-risks-of-the-european-green-deal-for-africa.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Usman |first1=Zainab |last2=Ituen |first2=Imeh |title=Navigating the Opportunities and Risks of the European Green Deal for Africa |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=21 October 2021 |url=https://afripoli.org/navigating-the-opportunities-and-risks-of-the-european-green-deal-for-africa |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{usman2021navigating, author = {Usman, Zainab and Ituen, Imeh}, title = {{Navigating the Opportunities and Risks of the European Green Deal for Africa}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://afripoli.org/navigating-the-opportunities-and-risks-of-the-european-green-deal-for-africa}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }