Sustainable development in African regional spaces

Both an old and a new concept, sustainable development has been at the centre of international debates for the last twenty years, understood as the judicious management of the environment through growth for the well-being of present and future generations. Africa is no exception to this incessant debate: how to reconcile economic and social development with the preservation of the natural environment, especially as its environment is affected by torrential rains leading to floods and other landslides, drought and pollution of all kinds. These events constitute a significant warning to the regional and sub-regional community of the continent by demonstrating the extreme vulnerability of human life now exposed to these threats. Thus, this book examines the difficulties but also the practical mechanisms put in place for the effective achievement of sustainable development in Africa.