AfCFTA and Green Growth: Anticipating Pollution Haven Effects in Africa[ZLECAF et Croissance verte : comment anticiper sur les havres de pollution en Afrique ?]

The globalization of trade has taken a decisive turn in Africa with the ratification of the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It results in a vast market of more than one billion consumers that will contribute to improving the living standards of populations, by reducing poverty and broadening economic inclusion. However, economic theory postulates that free trade is a lever for economic growth. Moreover, a reading of the specific objectives inherent to the achievement of the general objectives, and of the principles of the agreement, indicates that the environmental challenges of the AfCFTA are somewhat neglected. In a context where climate change is not a utopia, it becomes rational to adopt a model of economic growth focused on environmental protection: the green growth model. The objective of this paper is to formulate proposals aimed at anticipating the formation of pollution havens in the AfCFTA. In other words, it is about making the AfCFTA a source of green growth. It falls within the issue of greening the economy, under the hypothesis that free trade is a vector of pollution. It emerges essentially from our proposal that the AfCFTA can escape pollution havens if it adopts green growth measures, such as: climate justice, "systems" eco-innovations and the greening of structural transformation.