African leaders as well as the stakeholders in the global discourse on climate change have gathered in Kenya for the first ever edition of the Africa Climate Summit. The week-long event with the theme “Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World’’ is hinged on the need to address Africa’s climate change crisis.
Although the continent contributes a minimal amount of world’s carbon emissions, it is still facing a crisis of complacence in the face of raging floods, food shortages and loss of lives and livelihoods. According to the Science Direct database, no fewer than 4,000 people have been killed and 19 million affected by extreme weather events in Africa since 2022.
Thus, the summit is aimed at influencing climate commitments, pledges and outcomes, including the Nairobi Declaration known as a blueprint for Africa’s green energy transition.
Organised by the Kenyan government and African Union, the summit runs simultaneously with Africa Climate Week to raise consciousness and funds for climate change.
African needs an average of $124bn annually to tackle the crisis. The summit is focused on delivering climate-positive growth and finance solutions for Africa and the world ahead of the COP28 summit in the United Arab Emirates slated for November 30.
Some of the issues to be deliberated on at the summit include financing climate action, scaling up international climate financing for Africa, investing in nature and biodiversity amongst other issues.
