Jump to navigation

Kenya

Setting out Africa's case ahead of the UN's COP28 summit

Just 15 out of 54 African leaders are due to attend the critical climate summit in Nairobi on 4-8 September

The UN and the Kenya government have promised that a string of multi-million-dollar green investment deals will be signed at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi which starts on 4 September, a gathering where African leaders are to set their stall ahead of the COP28 climate summit in the United Arab Emirates.

Lobbyists and experts have called on the summit to prioritise the green energy transition. At least 15 African presidents are expected at the summit themed, 'Driving green growth and climate finance solutions for Africa and the world.'

Those are likely to be dominated by carbon trading  nature-based investments, where countries agree bilateral deals with donors to write off debt in exchange for green investment of an equivalent sum. 

Leaders are expected to sign a 'Nairobi Declaration on Green Growth and Climate Finance' which is likely to be at the heart of their push for financing commitments by wealthier countries to be respected at COP28 (AC Vol 63 No 23, Delegates haggle in Egypt as the planet burns).

It is also likely to signal which African states are next in line to follow South Africa and Senegal in agreeing Just Energy Transition Partnerships to phase out fossil fuels. A 'Pledging and Commitment Framework' will be used to encourage leaders to pledge their own national carbon reduction and green energy commitments.

Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, has said that Africa will need $2.7 trillion by 2030 to address climate issues.

However, little detail has emerged on what the 'loss and damage' fund, to compensate countries hardest hit by climate change – the agreement of which was the main breakthrough at last year's COP summit - will look like despite delegates giving a November deadline for working out the size and sources of the fund (AC Vol 64 No 3, Finance and energy access come first).



Related Articles

Finance and energy access come first

The IMF, World Bank and G20 face growing pressure to raise funds for climate goals ahead of the UN COP28 summit in Dubai

Arguments over emissions cuts, climate finance and developing economies' access to energy are set to dominate the UN COP28 Climate summit in Dubai in November. Despite sharpening geopolitical...


The race for Nairobi

The BBI alliance is manoeuvring its ally into the Nairobi governorship because it fears losing another by-election

The political differences between Deputy President William Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta are playing themselves out in the tussle to fill the position of the governor of Nairobi.


Jockeying for position

Elections may be two years away but the race to form new electoral alliances already dominates national politics

Kenya began 2020 with erratic and intractable factional politics as the top two candidates for the next presidential election – William Ruto and Raila Odinga – counter each...