The African region offers significant potential for human, social and economic development but
is facing enormous challenges. Rapid population growth, rising levels of poverty and inappropriate development practices are the main factors influencing the state of the environment in Africa. Other factors that have lead to continued environmental degradation include the impact of drought and other natural disasters, disease, ineffective development policies, unfavorable terms of international trade and the debt burden.
commitment by African leaders to the people of Africa. It recognizes that partnerships among African countries themselves and between them and with the international community are key
elements of a and between them and with the international community are key elements of a shared and common vision to eradicate poverty, and furthermore it aims to place their countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, while participating actively in the world economy and body politic. It provides a framework for sustainable development on the continent to be shared by all Africa’s people. NEPAD recognizes that the range of issues necessary to nurture the region’s environmental base and sustainable use of natural resources is vast and complex, and that a systematic combination of initiatives is necessary in order to develop a coherent environmental programme.
NEPAD called for the development and adoption of an environment initiative - a coherent action plan and strategies - to address the region’s environmental challenges while at the same time combating poverty and promoting socio-economic development. A coherent, strategic and long-term programme of action has been prepared to promote Africa’s sustainable development. The Action plan of the environment initiative of NEPAD covering the first decade of the twenty-first century is a response to such challenges. It has been prepared through a consultative and participatory process under the leadership of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) and in close cooperation with the secretariat of NEPAD and the African Union as well as with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The plan relates to Africa’s common and shared sustainable development problems and concerns. It is a body of collective and individual responsibilities and actions that African countries adopt and will implement to maintain the integrity of the environment and ensure the sustainable use of their natural resources through partnerships with the international community. It provides an appropriate framework for the establishment of a strong partnership for the protection of the environment between Africa and its partners based on the commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration.
