“The World Bank has predicted that climate change could cause 86 million internal migrants in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2050,” Tajani said.
Faced with this prospect, the goal of Italian cooperation initiatives “is to strengthen support for the sustainable development of this region, financing projects for clean energy, biodiversity protection and climate resilience”, he continued.
Tajani, however, also said Italy wants to “facilitate partnerships with and between the countries of the region, involving the private sector and creating opportunities for growth, enterprise and trade”.
“Right now, the strategic priorities for Africa are adaptation to climate change, access to clean energy and conservation of natural resources,” he said, adding that, according to World Bank estimates, the region has a photovoltaic energy potential of 10 Terawatts and a wind energy potential of 110 Terawatts, only 1 per cent of which had been exploited as of the end of 2020.
To harness the untapped potential greater investment and attention from international financial institutions are required, he added.
Meanwhile, Tajani said, Italy is playing its part.
“Fifty projects have been approved for Africa and the MENA region, with a preference for Africa, with a total of over 120 million in grants,” the minister said.
ANSA
