UNEP
Abstract: African countries are among the global front runners leading the transition toward greener and more inclusive economies. From Rwanda to Ghana, Morocco to South Africa, Senegal to Ethiopia, the level of innovation, drive and commitment to creating sustainable economic growth is remarkable. Leaders from this continent have recognized the potential value of leap-frogging technologies and practices that led to a ?pollute first, clean up later? mentality, which has characterised development throughout much of the world. Building on a strong endowment of natural resources and skills, as well as a culture that increasingly values such attributes, Africa is wellpositioned to be the epicentre of a global transition to more inclusive economies that produce growth without eroding the underlying stock of natural wealth. Many African governments already have implemented green economy policies across key sectors. In South Africa and Ghana, green public procurement has supported developments of emerging markets in areas of sustainably produced food, renewable energy and energy efficiency (IISD, 2008; IISD, 2012). Sound fiscal reforms are being implemented in Ghana (UNEP, 2014i), Mauritius (UNEP, 2014a) and South Africa (UNEP, 2013a) to introduce environmental taxes, remove environmentally harmful subsidies and reallocate budget expenditure towards green sectors. Capacitybuilding programmes and institutions, such as the Kenya National Cleaner Production Centre and the Rwanda Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Centre, have been created to develop skills and support access to new green job opportunities.