The African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action

PREAMBLE 

We, the African Heads of State and Government, gathered for the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 4^th to 6^th September 2023; in the presence of other global leaders, intergovernmental organizations, Regional Economic Communities, United Nations Agencies, private sector, civil society organizations, indigenous peoples, local communities, farmer organizations, children, youth, women and academia, hereby:

 

1.     Recall, the Assembly Decisions (AU/Dec.723(XXXII), AU/Dec.764 (XXXIII) and

AU/Dec.855(XXXVI)) requesting the African Union Commission to organize an African

Climate Summit and endorsing the offer by the Republic of Kenya to host the Summit;

 

2.     Commend the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) under the Leadership of H.E. President William Ruto for providing a unified approach and political leadership on an African vision that simultaneously pursues climate change and development agenda;

 

3.     Commend the Arab Republic of Egypt for the successful COP27 and its historic outcomes, particularly regarding loss and damage, just transition and energy, and call for the full implementation of all COP27 decisions

 

4.     Take Note of the 6th Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), stating that the world is not on track to keeping within reach the 1.5°C limit agreed in Paris and that global emissions must be cut by 43% in this decade;

 

5.     Underscore the IPCC confirmation that Africa is warming faster than the rest of the world and, if unabated, climate change will continue to have adverse impacts on African economies and societies, and hamper growth and wellbeing;

 

6.     Express concern that many African countries face disproportionate burdens and risks arising from climate change-related, unpredictable weather events and patterns, including prolonged droughts, devastating floods, wildfires, which cause massive humanitarian crisis with detrimental impacts on economies, health, education, peace and security, among other risks;

 

7.     Acknowledge that climate change is the single greatest challenge facing humanity and the single biggest threat to all life on Earth. It demands urgent and concerted action from all nations to lower emissions and reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; 

 

8.     Recognise that Africa is not historically responsible for global warming, but bears the brunt of its effect, impacting lives, livelihoods, and economies;

 

9.     Reaffirm the principles set out in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement, namely equity, common but

differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities,  

 

10.  Recall that only seven years remain to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, and note with concern that 600 million people in Africa still lack access to electricity while 970 million lack access to clean cooking; 

 

11.   Concerned that despite Africa having an estimated 40 percent of the world’s renewable energy resources, only $60 billion or two percent of US$3 trillion renewable energy investments in the last decade have come to Africa,

 

12.   Further recognise that African cities and urban centres are growing rapidly, and by 2050 would be home to over 1.0 billion people.  Cognisant of the fact that rapid urbanization, poverty, and inequality limit planning capacities and other urban dynamics which increase people’s exposure and vulnerability to hazards and have thus turned cities into disaster hotspots across the continent.

 

13.   Emphasise that Africa possesses both the potential and the ambition to be a vital component of the global solution to climate change. As home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing workforce, coupled with massive untapped renewable energy potential, abundant natural assets and entrepreneurial spirit, our continent has the fundamentals to spearhead a climate compatible pathway as a thriving, costcompetitive industrial hub with the capacity to support other regions in achieving their net zero ambitions. 

 

14.   Reiterate Africa’s readiness to create an enabling environment, enact policies and facilitate investments necessary to unlock resources to meet our own climate commitments, and contribute meaningfully to decarbonisation of the global economy.

 

15.   Recognize the important role of forests in Africa, in particular the Congo Basin rainforest in regulating global climate change

 

16.   Further recognize the critical importance of the oceans in climate action and commitments made on ocean sustainability in multiple fora such as the Second UN Oceans Conference in 2022, and the Moroni Declaration for Ocean and Climate Action in Africa in 2023

 

Collective action needed. 

 

17.   We call upon the global community to act with urgency in reducing emissions, fulfilling its obligations, keeping past promises, and supporting the continent in addressing climate change, specifically to: 

 

i)       Accelerate all efforts to reduce emissions to align with goals set forth in the Paris

Agreement  ii) Honor the commitment to provide $100 billion in annual climate finance, as promised 14 years ago at the Copenhagen conference. iii) Uphold commitments to a fair and accelerated process of phasing down coal, and abolishment of all fossil fuel subsidies.

 

18.   We call for climate-positive investments that catalyse a growth trajectory, anchored in the industries poised to transform our planet and enable African countries to achieve stable middle-income status by 2050. 

 

19.   We urge global leaders to join us in seizing this unprecedented opportunity to accelerate global decarbonization, while pursuing equality and shared prosperity;

 

20.  We call for the operationalization of the Loss & Damage fund as agreed at COP27 and resolve for a measurable Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) with indicators and targets to enable assessment of progress against negative impacts of climate change

 

We commit to: 

 

21.   Developing and implementing policies, regulations and incentives aimed at attracting local, regional and global investment in green growth and inclusive economies;

 

22.  Propelling Africa's economic growth and job creation in a manner that limits our own emissions and also aids global decarbonization efforts, by leapfrogging traditional industrial development and fostering green production and supply chains on a global scale;

 

23.  Focusing our economic development plans on climate-positive growth, including expansion of just energy transitions and renewable energy generation for industrial activity, climate smart and restorative agricultural practices, and essential protection and enhancement of nature and biodiversity; 

 

24.  Strengthening actions to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, deforestation, desertification, as well to restore degraded lands to achieve land degradation neutrality;

 

25.  Strengthening continental collaboration, which is essential to enabling and advancing green growth, including but not limited to regional and continental grid interconnectivity, and further accelerating the operationalization of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement;

 

26.  Advancing green industrialization across the Continent by prioritizing energy-intense industries to trigger a virtuous cycle of renewable energy deployment and economic activity, with a special emphasis on adding value to Africa's natural endowments; 

 

27.  Redoubling our efforts to boost agricultural yields through sustainable agricultural practices, to enhance food security while minimizing negative environmental impacts;

 

28.  Taking the lead in the development of global standards, metrics, and market mechanisms to accurately value and compensate for the protection of nature, biodiversity, socio-economic co-benefits, and the provision of climate services;

 

29.  Finalising and implementing the African Union Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, with the view to realizing the 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature;

 

30.  Providing all the necessary reforms and support required to raise the share of renewable energy financing to at least 20 percent by by 2030.

 

31.   Integrating climate, biodiversity and ocean agendas into national plans and processes in order to ensure their contribution to sustainable development, livelihoods and sustainability objectives, and to increase the resilience of local communities, coastal areas and national economies;

 

32.  Supporting smallholder farmers, indigenous peoples, and local communities in the green economic transition given their key role in ecosystems stewardship;

 

33.  Identifying, prioritizing and mainstreaming adaptation into development policymaking and planning, including in the context of national plans and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs);

 

34.  Building effective partnership between Africa and other regions, to meet the needs for financial, technical and technological support, and knowledge sharing for climate change adaptation;

 

35.  Promoting investments in urban infrastructure including through upgrading informal settlements and slum areas to build climate resilient cities and urban centres.  

 

36.  Strengthening early warning systems and climate information services, as well as taking early action to protect lives, livelihoods and assets and inform long-term decisionmaking related to climate change risks. We emphasise the importance of embracing indigenous knowledge and citizen science in both adaptation strategies and early warning systems;

 

37.  Enhancing drought resilience systems to shift from crisis management to proactive drought preparedness and adaptation, to significantly reduce drought vulnerability of people, economic activities, and ecosystems

 

38.  Accelerating implementation of the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032)

 

CALL TO ACTION

39.  Call upon world leaders to appreciate that decarbonizing the global economy is also an opportunity to contribute to equality and shared prosperity;

 

40.  Invite Development Partners from both the global south and north to align and coordinate their technical and financial resources directed toward Africa to promote sustainable utilization of Africa’s natural assets for the continent’s progression toward low carbon development, and contributing to global decarbonization;

 

41.   To accomplish this vision of economic transformation in harmony with our climate needs, we call upon the international community to contribute to the following:

 

i)       Increasing Africa’s renewable generation capacity from 56 GW in 2022 to at least 300 GW by 2030, both to address energy poverty and to bolster the global supply of cost-effective clean energy for industry;

ii)      Shifting the energy intensive primary processing of Africa’s raw material exports to the continent, also to serve as an anchor demand for our renewable energy and a means of rapidly reducing global emissions; 

iii)    Call for access to and transfer of environmentally sound technologies, including technologies that consist of processes and innovation methods to support Africa’s green industrialisation and transition. 

iv)    Designing global and regional trade mechanisms in a manner that enables products from Africa to compete on fair and equitable terms;

v)     Request that trade-related environmental tariffs and non-tariff barriers must be subject to multilateral discussions and agreements and not be unilateral, arbitrary or discriminatory measures; 

vi)    Accelerating efforts to decarbonize the transport, industrial and electricity sectors through the use of smart, digital and highly efficient technologies and systems.

vii)   Designing industry policies that incentivize global investment to locations that offer the most and substantial climate benefits, while ensuring benefits for local communities;

viii)  Implementing a mix of measures that elevate Africa share of carbon markets. 

 

42.  Reiterate the decision 31/ COP27 that a global transformation to a low-carbon economy is expected to require investment of at least USD 4–6 trillion per year and delivering such funding in turn requires a transformation of the financial system and its structures and processes, engaging governments, central banks, commercial banks, institutional investors and other financial actors.

 

43.  We call for collective global action to mobilise the necessary capital for both development and climate action, echoing the statement of the Paris Summit for a New Global Financing Pact that no country should ever have to choose between development aspirations and climate action. 

 

44.  Call for concrete time bound action on the proposals to reform the multilateral financial system currently under discussion specifically to: 

 

i.       build resilience to climate shocks, including better deployment of the SDR liquidity mechanism and disaster suspension clauses. We propose for consideration a new SDR issue for climate crisis response of at least the same magnitude as the Covid19 issue ($650b); 

 

ii.     better leveraging of the balance sheets of MDBs to scale up concessional finance to at least $500b per year; 

 

iii.    Measures to improve debt management, including:

a.    the inclusion of ‘debt pause clauses’, and 

b.    the proposed expert review of the Common Framework and the

Debt Sustainability Analysis

iv. New debt relief interventions and instruments to pre-empt debt default

– with the ability to 

a.    extend sovereign debt tenor, and 

b.    include a 10-year grace period 

v.       Decisive action on the Promotion of inclusive and effective international tax cooperation at the United Nations (Resolution A/C.2/77/L.11/REV.1)– with the aim to reduce Africa’s loss of $ 27 billion annual corporate tax revenue through profit shifting, by at least 50% by 2030 and 75% by 2050

vi.     Additional measures to crowd in and de-risk private capital, such as blended finance instruments, purchase commitments, partial foreign exchange (FX) guarantee industrial policy collaboration, which should be informed by the risks that drive lack of private capital deployment at scale;

vii.    Redesign of the MDB governance, to ensure a “fit for purpose” system with appropriate representation, voice, and agency of all countries

 

45.  Note that multilateral finance reform is necessary but not sufficient to provide the scale of climate financing the world needs to achieve 45 percent emission reduction by 2030 required to meet the Paris Agreement, without which keeping global warming to 1.5% will be in serious jeopardy.  Further note that the scale of financing required to unlock Africa’s climate-positive growth is beyond the borrowing capacity of national balance sheets, or at the risk premium that Africa is currently paying for private capital 

 

46.  Draw attention to the finding that inordinate borrowing costs, typically 5 to 8 times what wealthy countries pay (the “great financial divide”), are a root cause of recurring developing country debt crisis and an impediment to investment in development and climate action. We call for adoption of principles of responsible sovereign lending and accountability encompassing credit rating, risk analysis and debt sustainability assessment frameworks and urge the financial markets to commit to reduce this disparity by at least 50% i.e from 5%-8% to 2.5 – 4.0% by 2025.  

 

47.  Urge world leaders to rally behind the proposal for a global carbon taxation regime including a carbon tax on fossil fuel trade, maritime transport and aviation, that may also be augmented by a global financial transaction tax (FTT)) to provide dedicated, affordable, and accessible finance for climate-positive investments at scale, and ringfencing of these resources and decision-making from undue influence from geopolitical and national interests. 

 

48.  Propose to establish a new financing architecture that is responsive to Africa’s needs including debt restructuring and relief, including the development of a new Global Climate Finance Charter through UNGA and COP processes by 2025;

 

49.  That the first Global Stocktake, happening in 2023 at COP28 offers a pivotal opportunity to correct course by including a comprehensive outcome, both backward and forward looking". 

 

50.Decide  to establish the Africa Climate Summit as a biennial event convened by African Union and hosted by AU Member States, to set the continent’s new vision taking into consideration emerging global climate and development issues;

 

51.  Decide also that this Declaration will serve as a strong contribution from the African continent to the global climate change process, COP 28 and beyond;

 

52. Welcome the pledges made at the summit by United Arab Emirates (UAE) as COP28 President and other development partners to support Africa in particular for renewable energy and Adaptation

 

53. Appreciate the efforts of UAE as the COP28 President-Designate in the preparation of COP28, and affirm Africa’s full support for a successful and ambitious outcome of

COP28

 

54. Request African Union Commission to develop an implementation framework and roadmap for this Declaration and to make Climate Change an AU theme for the Year 2025 or 2026.

 

ADOPTED by African Heads of State and Government in the presence of global leaders and high-level representatives on 6 September 2023 in Nairobi Kenya.

African Group of Negotiators asked to remain committed to the continent’s climate agenda

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Soipan Tuya has implored the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) to remain committed in its role as a technical advisory body to policy makers on climate change multilateral processes.

Addressing the AGN Lead Coordinators in Nairobi, Kenya, ahead of the African Climate Summit (ACS), she emphasised the importance of the AGN to all on-going climate processes at all levels.

She encouraged the group to remain resolute in its work and ensure that Africa gets the best from the climate multilateral processes. 

“It is gratifying to note that you deliberately decided to come and have your meeting in Nairobi so that you are available to support the Africa Climate Summit,” said Soipan Tuya. “As AGN, you are our kitchen and engine room in these processes. We value your technical expertise and your work in the climate multilateral processes. Your role to the CAHOSCC and all the solid support you give us as policy makers is vital and cannot be underestimated.”

ACS, to be co-hosted by Kenya and the African Union Commission (AUC) in Nairobi from 4-6 September 2023, will be held under the theme: “Green Growth and Climate finance for Africa and the World.”

The meeting is envisaged to ensure Africa’s voice is elevated globally and integrated into existing international fora such as United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), G7/G20 processes and COP 28 among others. 

The summit will be held concurrently with the Africa Climate Week (4-8 September 2023), an annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) led event to promote actions that allow to course-correct and achieve the Paris Agreement goals and objectives.

The meeting is expected to bring together leaders from Africa and beyond; development partners; intergovernmental organisations; private sector; academia; civil society organisations; women and youth to design and catalyse actions and solutions for climate change in Africa by providing a platform to deliberate on the nexus between climate change, Africa’s development reality, and the need to push for increased investment in climate action globally, and specifically in Africa.

“As Africans, we recognise the importance of all the processes that have been going on, but we are at a point where we need to look for additional ways of supporting ourselves to meet the desired economic aspirations amid the climate crisis. We need to scale up action and reshape our thinking on how to deal with this challenge that we are facing,” observed Kenya’s Environment Minister.

She clarified that the summit was not aimed at replacing the on-going climate multilateral processes but rather strengthen Africa’s participation as a key player and showcase that despite the continent’s vulnerability to climate change impacts, there are immense opportunities for investment and growth that the world must acknowledge.

“We contribute very little but the most impacted. However, the summit is here to showcase that despite our vulnerability, we have immense opportunities for investment and growth that the world must acknowledge. The summit is not here to replace the AGN or any other climate multilateral processes. The summit cannot be here without the AGN as AGN is our engine for climate processes. Be rest assured of your continued role and expertise in these processes,” concluded Soipan Tuya.

AGN Chair, Ephraim Mwepya Shitima, pledged AGN’s unwavering support to the summit and the expected outcomes as the group prepares for COP28.

“We remain at your disposal as experts; we remain committed to Africa’s cause in these processes,” said Shitima.

Summit overarching objective

Africa is believed to be the continent of the future. As the youngest and fastest urbanizing continent with a population set to double to 2.5 billion by 2050, Africa has immense potential in clean energy, arable land, critical minerals, and natural resources. 

While the continent is already demonstrating strong momentum in driving green growth, it needs to capitalise on this existing momentum by (a) driving a holistic Green Growth Agenda that takes advantage of its vast resources, and (b) securing Climate Finance tailored to Africa’s needs to achieve its growth ambitions.

Africa’s renewables potential will be fifty times the global anticipated electricity demand in 2040.

However, renewable energy accounts for 10% of electricity generation mix, and only 20% of the total installed electricity generation capacity in Africa. 

Whereas Africa is home to 30-40% of the world's minerals - including those needed for green energy transition/batteries (e.g.,over 40% of global reserves of cobalt, manganese, and platinum), the continent has little to show for in terms of clean energy and mobility. 

Similarly, while Africa has 60% of the world’s remaining uncultivated arable land, that, when sustainably exploited can help the world attain food security, the continent is a net importer of food. 

The summit is thus looking to address the need to change Africa’s narrative on climate change to be a growth agenda by harnessing opportunities that exist for economic transformation. 

By Kofi Adu Domfeh

AGN Lead Coordinators meet ahead of African Climate Summit

Lead Coordinators of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) are meeting in Nairobi ahead of the African Climate Summit (ACS) to deliberate on key issues in relation to the continent’s interests and expectations for COP28.

 

In addition to the African common position on the various climate thematic negotiating streams, the AGN Lead Coordinators are also deliberating on the Nairobi Declaration, a key outcome document expected at the end of the Summit.

 

Speaking during the opening session of the meeting, AGN Chair, Ephraim Mwepya Shitima, urged the Lead Coordinators to continue playing their “critical role as technical advisors to policy makers on Africa’s effective participation in the global climate negotiations in relation to the continent’s development realities and aspirations.”

 

The inaugural Summit, holding from 4-6 September, 2023, is under the theme: “Green Growth and Climate finance for Africa and the World”. It is envisaged to ensure Africa’s voice is elevated globally and integrated into existing international fora such as United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), G7/G20 processes and COP 28 among others.

 

Gracing the AGN Lead Coordinators meeting, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Office Director for Africa, Rose Mwebaza appreciated the AGN’s role over the years, to Africa’s effective participation in the climate processes and urged the group to remain focused.

 

“I am particularly delighted to be with you not only in my new capacity here at UNEP, heading the Africa regional office but also as one of you, having been an active participant in the climate change negotiation processes for the past 20 years,” said Mwebaza. “I believe these are exciting times as the continent prepares to host the inaugural Africa Climate Summit. As technical negotiators, I urge you to remain focused and provide the necessary guidance in relation to the continent’s development needs.”

 

The Summit will be held concurrently with the Africa Climate Week – 4-8 September – an annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)-led event to promote actions that allow to course-correct and achieve the Paris Agreement goals and objectives.

 

The meeting is expected to bring together leaders from Africa and beyond; development partners, intergovernmental organisations, private sector, academia, civil society organisations, women and youth to design and catalyse actions and solutions for climate change in Africa by providing a platform to deliberate on the nexus between climate change, Africa’s development reality, and the need to push for increased investment in climate action globally, and specifically in Africa.

 

Opportunity for Africa

As the youngest and fastest urbanizing continent with a population set to double to 2.5 billion by 2050, Africa has immense potential in clean energy, arable land, critical minerals, and natural resources.

 

While the continent is already demonstrating strong momentum in driving green growth, it is needs to capitalise on this existing momentum by (a) driving a holistic Green Growth Agenda that takes advantage of its vast resources, and (b) securing Climate Finance tailored to Africa’s needs to achieve its growth ambitions.

 

Africa’s renewables potential will be fifty times the global anticipated electricity demand in 2040. However, renewable energy accounts for 10% of electricity generation mix, and only 20% of the total installed electricity generation capacity in Africa.

 

Whereas Africa is home to 30-40% of the world's minerals - including those needed for green energy transition/batteries – over 40% of global reserves of cobalt, manganese, and platinum – the continent has little to show for in terms of clean energy and mobility.

 

Similarly, while Africa has 60% of the world’s remaining uncultivated arable land, that, when sustainably exploited can help the world attain food security, the continent is a net importer of food. The summit is thus looking to address the need to change Africa’s narrative on climate change to be a growth agenda by harnessing opportunities that exist for economic transformation.

 

This Agenda of ACS will focus on 5 core growth thrusts: energy transition/renewable energy, green minerals and manufacturing, sustainable agriculture, land and water/ ocean use, sustainable infrastructure and urbanization, and natural capital supported by two important cross-cutting levers – Adaptation and resilience to climate risk and Climate finance and Carbon Credits.

 

The outputs from the Summit will also aim to provide important input and direction to the ongoing work on global financial institution reforms to support such a growth agenda with corresponding shifts in their own pathways.

 

 

African Climate Summit: Scaling up renewable energy for green growth

Africa has its own challenges, but the continent holds massive potential to contribute to global climate action with its clean energy sources, critical minerals, agricultural capacity, and natural capital. 

 

Africa holds over 40% of global reserves of cobalt, manganese and platinum and is home to 60% of the best solar resources globally. Already, solar is said to be the cheapest source of power in many parts of the continent, while 80% of new power generation capacity is renewables.

 

There is a unified African voice led by the President of Kenya, Dr. William Ruto that the continent is ready to provide leadership and work towards global efforts to decarbonise. 

 

“We therefore have an opportunity to lead the world and show that we can industrialise and prosper – and achieve this in a low carbon and sustainable manner, and make this century, African Century,” he said while addressing the 36th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. 

 

Unfortunately, renewable energy investment in Africa is lagging behind and funds are needed for Africa to unlock green growth opportunities. In 2022, the continent only received a paltry 0.8 percent of the $495 billion invested in renewables globally. 

 

“We have an abundance of clean, renewable energy and it's vital that we use this to power our future prosperity. But to unlock it, Africa needs funding from countries that have got rich off our suffering. They owe a climate debt. But climate change in Africa is more than just solar panels,” said Mohamed Adow, Director of energy and climate think-tank, Power Shift Africa.

 

The Africa Climate summit is calling for ambitious investments in renewable energy. Currently, Africa needs $133 billion every year in clean energy investment to meet its energy and climate goals between 2026 and 2030.

 

"The renewable energy industry is committed to scaling up the total global capacity to at least 11,000 GW by 2030. Unfortunately, renewable energy investment in Africa is lagging behind. Let us harness the potential of renewable energy in Africa not just for the climate but as a socioeconomic catalyst, for energy security, access and community empowerment towards a sustainable and prosperous continent," said Bruce Douglas, CEO of the Global Renewable Alliance.

 

Proposed funding approaches championed by President Ruto who is the Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) include:

 

1.   A global effort to raise the necessary funds for climate action-targeted taxes, removal of fossil fuel subsidies, and a global fossil fuel tax. 

2.   A global treaty should be established to ensure collective action and effective allocation of funds.

3.   Collective efforts by all stakeholders including governments, multilateral institutions, private sector, civil society, philanthropic institutions and local communities to deliver climate action and build sustainable future.

4.   Representation of Africa in major climate diplomacy events globally.

 

Africa can achieve its sustainable development goals by investing in RE. However, a focus on fossil fuels will see the continent lag behind everyone else as the world begins to switch off fossil fuels to go clean.

 

Data shows that renewable energy creates two to five times more jobs than fossil fuels per dollar invested. Other green economy investments like agriculture, climate adaptation and public transit provide five to 25 times more jobs. 

 

The Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya from 4-6 September, offers the best opportunity to discuss ways to boost investments that will help communities on the climate frontline to adjust effectively.

 

This meeting should emphasise ways of ensuring communities can live in dignity and to thrive.

 

According to Dr. Olumide Abimbola, Founder and Director of Africa Policy Research Institute, “Africa has much of the minerals that the world requires to power the green transition. What we are seeing is that African governments are looking for ways to make sure that these minerals are not just exported out of the continent, but that value addition happens on the continent, that the minerals power national and regional industrialisation processes.

 

“I am hoping that we see this message come out strongly during the African Climate Summit. But beyond that, I am hoping to see deeper discussions regarding concrete plans for how to make this happen – and the roles that external actors can play here.”

 

By Kofi Adu Domfeh