Abstract

Both the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have embarked on new policy pathways to accommodate climate change more effectively in future. These pathways and recent developments such as the Tripartite Initiative and the BRICS Partnership between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are reflected on as they are not only deemed to become more and more relevant in a changing climate, but at the same time promise to enfold potential and new opportunities for economic and sustainable development for Africa on regional and sub-regional levels. It is the objective of this article to discuss these new policy pathways and related developments and, where possible, assess their potential benefit. While doing so, the article reflects on legal and institutional structures, some relevant cases, contemporary and future challenges, and developmental perspectives pertinent to the issue of climate change and the African continent.