Evidence has shown that there is a direct relationship between green growth promotion and economic growth. Countries that focus on minimising waste and pollution, maximising natural resources use and strengthening the resilience of livelihoods exhibit high levels of sustainable economic growth.

This was said by the Deputy Regional Director of United Nations Environmental Programme,  Desta Mebratu, on the second day of the 49th African Development Bank Annual Meetings in Kigali. He gave the example of Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana and Mozambique, saying they have all taken a leadership role in promoting green economic growth and in turn experienced tremendous economic growth.

"These counties are not only the fastest growing economies in Africa or conscious about promoting a green economy, but are also looking into the future 20 or 25 years down the road and preparing their economies for long term developments,” Mebratu said.

The link between the two aspects is that governments mainstream green growth into the national development planning which includes providing technical assistance for integrating green growth into poverty reduction strategies and actions.

At the project level, Mebratu said green growth involved enabling more efficient and sustainable development outcomes through appropriate technology and practices.

He said changing the focus and attention to green growth as the four countries had done was not easy  but the consequences of not taking action were dire. 

He, however, said he was impressed by the way more African countries were getting on the green economy path.

"Changing trajectory is not easy, it requires effort, understanding and leadership. Some countries are still reluctant but together with the African Development Bank, Unep is struggling to respond to requests by some African countries to be supported to get on track,” Mebratu said.

Mebratu said African countries have a challenge and at the same an opportunity in terms of leapfrogging to green growth and green economy considering their natural resources and that they are the latest starters in the green growth global domain. 

Stanislas Kamanzi, the Minister for Natural Resources, said Rwanda’s progress was due to a three-fold national climate change strategy.

"It guides the national policy and planning, mainstreams climate change and overcomes major hitches such as demographic pressure,” Kamanzi said.

Trevor Manuel, a South African minister in the Presidency in charge of the National Planning Commission, commended Rwanda for its green growth model and urged African countries to emulate Rwanda.