AfCFTA presents opportunity for Africa to pursue climate policies: UNECA

ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement has presented an opportunity for African countries to pursue climate policies, a senior United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) official has said.

"As we strive to harness the potential of the AfCFTA, it is essential that we do so in a manner that safeguards our natural ecosystem, promotes renewable energy and mitigates the impact of climate change," a UNECA statement issued Monday quoted Melaku Desta, coordinator of the UNECA's Africa Trade Policy Center (ATPC), as saying. According to the statement, Desta made the remarks on behalf of Claver Gatete, executive secretary of the UNECA, at a side event held during the ongoing COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.