Africa(Commonwelth Union)_Kenya’s president expressed Africa’s potential to lead global efforts in climate action as he prepared to inaugurate a groundbreaking climate summit in Nairobi on Monday. The summit’s primary goal is to redefine Africa as an emerging hub for renewable energy.
The inaugural Africa Climate Summit precedes a series of diplomatic gatherings leading up to the November COP28 climate summit in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. This event is expected to revolve around divergent visions for the world’s energy future.
The Nairobi conference aims to bring together leaders from the 54 nations of Africa to establish a collective vision for environmentally sustainable development. This is a challenging endeavor, considering the region’s political and economic diversity and its high vulnerability to climate change impacts. Kenyan President William Ruto emphasized that Africa’s stance on climate action should prioritize “saving lives and the planet from calamity.”
He further stated, “We aspire to outline a fresh growth agenda that promotes shared prosperity and sustainable development,” as conveyed through a post on X (formerly Twitter). He expressed Africa’s commitment to leveraging this unique opportunity to lead the world towards inclusive climate action.
In pursuit of these goals, Ruto called upon the international community to facilitate financing for the continent and alleviate the mounting debt burden faced by African nations.
Joseph Nganga, Ruto’s nominee to lead the summit, asserted that the conference’s purpose is to demonstrate that Africa is not merely a victim but a dynamic continent with solutions to offer the world.
Security measures have been bolstered around the summit venue in central Nairobi, with road closures in place. The government reported that 30,000 individuals have registered to attend the three-day event.
Civil society groups are anticipated to protest the summit’s agenda at its commencement, expressing concerns about its perceived alignment with the interests of wealthier nations.
A preliminary version of the summit’s concluding statement, reviewed by AFP, highlights Africa’s substantial potential in renewable energy, its youthful workforce, and its rich natural resources. This includes significant reserves of cobalt, manganese, and platinum, crucial for batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, accounting for 40 percent of global reserves.
Nevertheless, the continent faces formidable challenges, with hundreds of millions lacking access to electricity. Despite possessing 60 percent of the world’s prime solar energy resources, Africa’s installed capacity is comparable to that of Belgium, as noted in a recent commentary co-authored by Ruto and International Energy Agency Chief Fatih Birol. Currently, only about three percent of global energy investments are directed towards Africa.
Charra Tesfaye Terfassa, from the think tank E3G, stressed the importance of the summit in maintaining a balance between optimism and a realistic evaluation of the hurdles. This approach is crucial for charting a new course for Africa’s involvement in the global dialogue and harnessing the opportunities of the energy transition.
The Nairobi meeting is expected to draw several African heads of state, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and other prominent leaders.
