The European Union (EU) is seeking to establish sustainable and equal partnerships with Namibia to address one of the most serious challenges in living memory: climate change.
This is according to Ana-Beatriz Martins, ambassador of the EU delegation to Namibia.
In this regard, the EU and Namibia are collaborating on a climate neutrality goal, with Namibia advancing green industrialisation and the EU aiming to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.
“In a Team Europe spirit, the EU, together with Belgium, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands is engaged with substantial technical and financial cooperation, while consortia between Namibian and European companies are advancing at full steam in piloting projects to the tune of 20 billion Euros (N$394 billion),” Martins said last week in Windhoek during Europe Day celebrations.
EU Day is celebrated annually on 9 May. During this occasion, Europeans celebrate peace and unity as it marks the anniversary of the historical ‘Schuman Declaration’, which was presented by French foreign minister Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950. This event in Windhoek highlighted 34 years of EU-Namibia cooperation, focusing on inclusive green growth and sustainable development.
Moreover, the EU’s Global Gateway Instrument aims to implement this joint ambition to combat climate change. As such, the EU has already concluded a strategic partnership with Namibia on the supply of sustainable raw materials and renewable hydrogen.
The partnership aims to ensure the development of a secure and sustainable supply of raw and refined materials, as well as renewable hydrogen to support green and digital transformations.
The Namibian and EU partnership further deepens cooperation in areas with mutual benefits for both parties. The partnership aims to promote local value-addition in Namibia by supporting the development of the mining and renewable hydrogen value chains. It will also support sustainable raw material value chains, and facilitate investment and funding opportunities to modernise Namibian industries to drive economic and social development.