The appointment was made at a forum held in the margins of
the One Planet Summit 20201 to mobilise support for the ambitious project to
plant an 8,000 km swathe of trees and other vegetation across the Sahara and
Sahel regions of Africa. The green wall will act as a barrier against desertification
and aims to create over 10 million green jobs in the region.
“I would also like to welcome the commitment of Dr. Adesina,
President of the African Development Bank, who has agreed to take on the role
of resource mobilization champion and help raise, by 2030, all the necessary
funds for the realization of the Great Green Wall,” French President Emmanuel
Macron told participants.
In the role of champion, Adesina will lead the mobilisation
of political and economic support for the initiative.
“The Great Green Wall Initiative is the first step on the
way to nature-based solutions as well as solutions based on the vitality of
African eco-solutions,” said Macron. “France is very committed to this region
from the standpoint of security and sustainability. We need to beef up the
initiative for all the 11 countries.”
During the forum, Adesina announced that the Bank would
mobilize up to $6.5 billion over the next 5 years for the Great Green Wall
Initiative, joining multilateral development institutions, governments and
development partners that have pledged over $14 billion. The World Bank, for
instance, pledged over $5 billion in funding to advance land restoration and
degradation issues and to address challenges around Lake Chad.
Adesina praised the initiative. “The Great Green Wall is
part of Africa’s environmental defense system — a shield against the onslaughts
of desertification and degradation,” he said. “The future of the Sahel region
of Africa depends on the Great Green Wall. Without the Great Green Wall, in the
face of climate change and desertification, the Sahel may disappear.”
Participants at the One Planet Summit with Macron, Prince Charles, Adesina and others |
Adesina noted that ongoing Bank initiatives such as Desert
to Power, a programme to build the largest solar zone in the world in the
Sahel, will enhance and complement the Great Green Wall. “This will provide
electricity for 250 million people and help to protect the Great Green Wall. If
there is no access to energy, the Great Green Wall will be no more than trees
waiting to be turned into charcoal.” The Bank has committed to mobilize $25
billion for climate finance by 2025.
The One Planet Summit 2021 is hosted by French President
Emmanuel Macron and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The Summit, held
annually, brings together political leaders, private sector decision makers,
foundations, NGOs and citizens to identify and accelerate funding for climate,
biodiversity and ocean solutions and mobilize all stakeholders in public life
and the economic world in collaborative efforts.
Other Great Green Wall Champions include musicians Baaba
Maal and Ricky Kej and environmental activist Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim.
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