African ministers and other senior officials including representatives of finance, sustainable development, economic development, international organizations, banks, and various governments issued a communiqué at the International Cooperation Forum and Meeting of African Ministers of Finance, Economy, and Environment in Cairo from the 7th to the 9th of September. In the communiqué, they reaffirmed their dedication to the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, calling upon African nations to focus on adapting to the effects of climate change, while simultaneously fulfilling both sustainable development and poverty eradication. They also urged developed countries and global stakeholders to fulfill their commitments regarding sustainable development, inviting organizations such as the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, and the International Sustainability Standards Board to support their dedication towards sustainable development and combating climate change. ISSB Chair Emmanuel Faber later said: “I’m greatly encouraged by the African community’s interest and support for the ISSB’s work. This commitment is reciprocated as we develop a global baseline of sustainability disclosures that follows an inclusive process and is shaped by feedback from all regions, including Africa. We look forward to working closely with stakeholders across Africa and in developing and emerging economies elsewhere to build sustainable disclosure capacity.” With the ISSB’s recent appointment of former World Bank President Jingdong Hua as co Vice-Chair, the ISSB appears to be preparing to oversee development and support of emerging economies in Africa and elsewhere.
