Browsing: Africa Climate Summit

• For African universities, governments and businesses, 5G Tech Spaces are part of the solution to enable Africa to leapfrog with clean innovation.
• Africa’s climate finance inflows remain very low, at 3 percent of global climate finance.
• The continent requires as much as $2.8 trillion through 2030 to implement its climate commitments.

Africa’s most renowned universities are keen to be at the forefront of Research, Innovation and Outreach (RIO) of technologies, products, services and operating models that reduce CO2 emissions and help attain Net Zero Emissions (NZE).

To achieve this, the gap between rhetoric and action needs to be reduced, if we are to have a fighting chance of reaching Net Zero by 2050 and capping the rise in global temperature at 1.5 °C in full attainment of the Paris Agreement.

Africa produces only about 4 percent of the world’s emissions, but is disproportionately vulnerable to the impact of climate change. …

A considerable gap exists between symbol and substance regarding an African climate change approach. Foreign leaders often nod to how Africa accounts for only four per cent of global emissions but bears the brunt of the devastating climate change effects. Rising temperatures, extreme weather conditions, and ecosystem disruptions threaten millions of Africans’ livelihoods.

For many communities across the continent, the climate threat is already existential. With 18 per cent of the global population, Africa has 16 of the 20 countries most vulnerable to climate change, according to Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative.…

Kenya has bagged three green investment deals at the recently concluded Africa Climate Summit. The sustainable trade investment deals will see the East African nation partner with Sweden, South Africa and Hong Kong to enhance food security and air travel in the country. The parties involved announced the three deals during a sideline event of the 2023 Africa climate summit in Nairobi.…

• The funding will target young entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium enterprises with innovative solutions to drive climate change adaptation and resilience throughout Africa.
• YouthAdapt has already disbursed over $1.5 million to 33 young entrepreneurs across 19 African nations.
• Failing to invest in the youth will hurt Africa; failure is not an option – AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina has unveiled a $1 billion fund aimed at propelling climate financing for youth-led businesses across Africa. The initiative, known as YouthAdapt, is a partnership between the AfDB and the Global Centre on Adaptation.

YouthAdapt is designed to empower young entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium enterprises with innovative solutions to drive climate change adaptation and resilience throughout Africa.

Dr Adesina made the announcement during a High-Level Dialogue titled “Africa Driving Climate Adaptation Solutions and Jobs,” held at the Wangari Maathai Institute of …

• Kenya has partnered with Spiro, Africa’s first electric bike maker, to address the rising concern of high fuel costs.
• President William Ruto plans on setting up 3000 battery charging and swapping stations in Kenya.
• Today, the UN Environment Program is active in nine African countries.

As the world steadily shifts into the new industrial age, many governments have taken the necessary steps to ensure they do not miss out. Among the wave of ingenuity, the 4th industrial revolution has brought the growing need for alternative energy sources.

As a result, the age of electronic vehicles is upon us, and the Kenyan government has pioneered this new initiative. President William Ruto recently announced an electronic bike movement to completely redefine transportation for the nations.

The government has announced a new partnership with the African startup Spiro to battle the high fuel cost by introducing electrical motorcycles. 

Kenya partners with e-bikers firm

• Oil-rich UAE will provide $4.5 billion, drawing contributions from both the public and private sectors.
• In Nairobi, the US has pledged an annual commitment of $3 billion to bolster climate adaptation initiatives.
• The European Commission unveiled a €1 billion ($1.07 billion) fund designed to de-risk green bonds and attract private investments in emerging markets.

The US and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have stepped up their support for Africa’s climate action efforts with multi-billion-dollar pledges during the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi.

The commitments come at a crucial time as Africa grapples with the severe impacts of industrial pollution, with 17 out of the 20 worst-affected countries calling the continent home.

US Unveils PREPARE: $3 Billion Annual Commitment

John Kerry, US Climate Envoy, unveiled President Joe Biden’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), signaling Washington’s strong commitment to climate adaptation across countries. Under PREPARE, the US has pledged …

• Youth leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers presented the Africa Youth Climate Assembly Declaration to Kenya’s President William Ruto, and African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina.
• The declaration advocates for the accelerated establishment of a Global Green Bank and a New Global Financial Pact, aiming to prioritise young people and their interests in climate financing. 
• During the Africa Youth Climate Assembly, a wide range of issues emerged including youth access to finance, Africa’s energy transition, the plight of millions displaced owing to the impacts of climate change and mobilisation of resources for sustainable development.

As the Africa Climate Summit draws to a close, a key highlight from the three-day summit is that Africa’s youth need to be more involved in the climate change conversation. 

This, as youth leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers presented the Africa Youth Climate Assembly Declaration to Kenya’s President, William Ruto, and African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina.…

• Eight out of the ten finalists in the Ashden Awards’ Global South categories hail from Africa.
• The Ashden Awards recognize innovative initiatives that contribute to a greener, more resilient planet.
• From powering smallholder farms to providing energy in camps for displaced people, these pioneers are redefining the accessibility and sustainability of energy resources.

The Africa Climate Summit kicked off today in Nairobi with a focus on harnessing innovative climate solutions to address the pressing environmental challenges facing the continent.

As the summit commences, the spotlight shines on the groundbreaking efforts of climate pioneers who are making strides toward a more inclusive and sustainable future. Leading the charge is climate charity Ashden, which has unveiled the finalists for its prestigious 2023 Ashden Awards.

Eight out of the ten finalists in the Ashden Awards‘ Global South categories hail from Africa, showcasing the remarkable breadth of climate innovation emerging from the continent. …

• The Africa Climate Summit 2023 seeks to foster collaborative efforts in addressing the pressing climate crisis.
• Ahead of the summit, President William Ruto calls on the global north to live up to the climate action commitments.
• African government leaders are poised to commit to a Nairobi Declaration at the end of the meeting.

In a historic gathering of minds, an estimated 15,000 individuals, spanning government leaders, policymakers, civil society, the private sector, multilateral institutions, and youth from approximately 80 countries, have converged in Nairobi, Kenya, for the first-ever Africa Climate Summit.

The event has garnered attention from across the globe. Over 30 Heads of State have confirmed their attendance. Also attending will be the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.

Africa Climate Summit 2023

The primary aim of the Africa Climate Summit 2023 is to foster collaborative efforts in addressing the pressing climate crisis. Earlier Mr. Kerry expressed …

• Currently, East Africa is reeling from the effects of the worst drought on record; extreme heat is ravaging northern Africa while flash floods remain a constant threat.  
• This is despite the continent contributing the least to global warming and having the lowest carbon emissions on record.
• According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), Africa is the most vulnerable continent to climate change impacts under all climate scenarios above 1.5 degrees Celsius. 

Over the past few years, the frequency and intensity of adverse effects of climate change in different African nations has been on the rise. Rising temperatures, floods, and droughts are as a result of climate change yet the continent contributes the least carbon emissions. 

However, resultant collateral damage is posing systemic risks to the continent’s economies. Infrastructure investments, water and food systems, public health, agriculture, and livelihoods are at risk, threatening to undo Africa’s modest development gains. Left unchecked, …