Can AfCFTA Boost Trade Without Harming the Environment?

Africa’s biggest trade deal promises economic growth, but weak regulations and rapid industrial expansion could trigger an environmental crisis. What’s the plan?

Unity Through Trade

Every few decades, a policy decision reshapes the economic landscape of an entire continent. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is set to become one of those decisions. With a projected population surge from 1.2 billion to 2.5 billion by 2050, Africa is on the verge of the largest free trade agreement since the WTO’s inception. The promise? Greater economic integration, stronger regional ties, and unprecedented market access.

But at what cost?

Intra-African trade currently hovers at 15–18% of total trade volume, leaving vast room for growth. More commerce means more infrastructure, higher industrial output, and increased resource extraction. These economic gains could come with irreversible environmental consequences if African nations fail to act now.

Climate change already threatens the continent’s ecosystems and communities. More frequent droughts, erratic rainfall, and rising temperatures demand that trade policies account for environmental realities. The choices made today will determine whether AfCFTA fuels prosperity or accelerates ecological decline.

Trade agreements rarely prioritize environmental concerns unless they are built into the foundation. Without clear environmental safeguards, unchecked industrial expansion could deplete water sources, drive deforestation, and erase biodiversity. Economic growth and environmental responsibility must go hand in hand, not as an afterthought but as a central pillar of policy design.Since . . .