Africa vows to adopt good environmental practices from China

NAIROBI, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- African environmental ministers on Tuesday vowed to adopt China's good environmental practices to help reduce the level of forest degradation and air pollution in the continent.

The African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) president Pacome Moubelet-Boubeya said there are plans to borrow Beijing's bold innovations in forest management and air pollution practices as a way of saving the continent from uncalled for problems.

"We plan to establish a partnership that will be instrumental to fast tracking climate change adaptation, promotion of good health and eradicate poverty," Moubelet-Boubeya, Minister of Forest, Sea and Environment of Gabon, said during an interview in Nairobi.

He hailed China's initiatives and engagements with African nations, adding that as members of the South-South Cooperation, the continent expect to adopt initiatives from the country to ensure social and economic development as enshrined in the international development agenda.

"We have just seen the new make Mobike being showcased as an alternative to reducing air pollution and congestion in the cities. This is an initiative that has to be in place in our cities in the near future," Moubelet-Boubeya.

The AMCEN president said that Africa takes the South-South cooperation seriously especially in achieving the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Trade and investments that are planned under the South-South cooperation have the potential in harnessing knowledge and improving health, education, social welfare of the continents citizens," he added.

Moubelet-Boubeya noted that Africa's population has been rising rapidly hence the need to borrow good practices from China that includes strengthening and use of indigenous knowledge.

He revealed that AMCEN is ready to adopt the resolutions that will be agreed at the end of the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA)

The minister noted that under his leadership, Africa will share best experiences and also increase the adoption of science and technology in solving problems.

"We are ready and willing to negotiate with our development partners in this area as we strive to better the living conditions of the populations," he added.

He challenged AMCEN member nations to stop delivering many speeches and instead act in addressing their development plans through homegrown solutions.

"We need to speak with one voice during international meetings such as UNEA to be heard and be able to make significant contribution and impact in the continent," he added. Enditem