Climate Change And Environmental Considerations In The Implementation Of The AfCFTA

1 Introduction

The African Continental Free Trade Area ("AfCFTA") Agreement establishes the world's largest free trade market, with the potential to revolutionise markets and economies across the continent. Projections indicate that AfCFTA could significantly boost intra-African trade by 52.3% through the elimination of import duties and tariffs, and this increase could double with the reduction of non-tariff barriers. Additionally, the AfCFTA is expected to expand Africa's economy to $29 trillion by 2050.¹

Trading has commenced under the Guided Trade Initiative ("GTI"), and we have seen shipments laden with goods originating from African countries berth at different ports of participating countries which signposts the expected exponential increase in economic activity on the continent. The increase in economic activities from trade liberalisation will concomitantly exacerbate the environmental and sustainability issues confronting most countries globally.