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Blog post
Can the world afford an increase in Africa’s share of global emissions?
Despite contributing the least to climate change, many African countries experience the brunt of its impacts, yet they may have to increase their share of global emissions whilst targeting climate change adaptation. The UN Secretary-General characterises the main hurdle preventing collective and decisive climate action as a climate of mistrust. Beyond this mistrust, there...
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Blog post
Peace or conflict? The impact of private investment in African countries
Private investments can ameliorate or exacerbate conflict in fragile countries depending on the extent to which they are subtractive or additive to the local capital stock. Private sector involvement in peacebuilding processes has been promoted and aided since the early 2000s, especially by multilateral agencies. Evidence of this interest is traceable in official...
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Blog post
Industrialising Africa: Why China’s investments matter for Africa
Many African countries remain in search of structural transformation and Chinese resources and experience could be a significant contributor to industrial development on the continent. Since the onset of the China-Africa debate, focus has been on the consequent opportunities and challenges for African development, and particularly, for industrialisation. Scholars not only...
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Blog post
Industrialising Africa: The transformative potential of infrastructure
Infrastructure is key for economic growth, impacting productivity and integration in global markets. These are both crucial to industrial advancement and connectivity in Africa. Good infrastructure contributes to economic growth by reducing costs and facilitating more efficient use of productive inputs. As such,rarely embark on economic development without first...
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Blog post
Industrialising Africa: The role of services
Services play an increasingly large role in industrialisation and growth. In Africa, services, including intra-regional services trade, must be emphasised in industrialisation policy going forward. Africa has the opportunity to use the services sector to orient growth in a more sustainable and balanced way, as was in Asia, Europe, and North America earlier. The...
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Blog post
Industrialising Africa: Anchoring climate adaptation and the AfCFTA
Industrialisation in African countries must balance development needs with two emerging priorities – climate adaptation and regional trade. Industrialisation strategies can uniquely coalesce these priorities, as has been done in countries like Morocco and Ethiopia. African countries can shape their industrialisation strategies to anchor broader climate and trade...
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Blog post
Climate priorities: Lessons for flood risk mitigation in Pakistan
For millions of devastated people, the response to Pakistan’s unprecedented flooding came too late. Learning from this is essential to averting and mitigating future crises. Pakistan is all too familiar with floods and droughts. The country, however, has recently been facing increasingly devastating climate disasters. Unprecedented floods in between June and September...
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Blog post
Climate priorities: Tackling climate governance in India
Addressing climate change through policy may not be enough. Legislation around climate can ensure economy-wide outcomes. Broader political context will also need to be considered, in India as in the rest of the world, while drawing laws to ensure that both environmental and development objectives are met. India has a growing edifice of climate policy, but climate...
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Blog post
Climate priorities: Challenges and opportunities for e-waste in Rwanda
Growth in use and obsolescence of electronic goods results in e-waste which poses significant health and environmental risks, requiring wide-ranging solutions. There is a sustained global increase in the manufacturing, demand, and usage of electronics and electronic equipment. Simultaneously, the resulting electronic waste (e-waste) generated from obsolete and discarded...
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Blog post
Climate priorities: Health and environmental impacts of brick kilns in Bangladesh
Brick kilns are a major source of air pollution in Bangladeshi cities. Not only do they pose serious health and pollution risks, but also contribute to widespread labour rights violations. Research and policy should focus on identifying feasible alternatives to bricks and strict monitoring of the industry. The fundamental component of construction, bricks and brick...
Blog post
Peace or conflict? The impact of private investment in African countries
Private investments can ameliorate or exacerbate conflict in fragile countries depending on the extent to which they are subtractive or additive to the local capital stock. Private sector involvement in peacebuilding processes has been promoted and aided since the early 2000s, especially by multilateral agencies. Evidence of this interest is traceable in official...