Africa Climate Week 2023 took place in Nairobi, Kenya parallel with the Africa Climate Summit, which saw 20 African Heads of State and Government highlight their countries’ commitment to spearhead initiatives in renewable energy, sustainable land use and innovative climate technologies.
In Africa, we can be a green industrial hub that helps other regions achieve their net-zero strategies by 2050 – Pres. William Ruto of Kenya
Africa Climate Week 2023 – The brief
As climate impacts intensify across the continent, Africa Climate Week emphasized the urgent need for swift and coordinated action to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate. The event featured discussions, workshops and high-level panels showcasing the opportunities for growth and development that abound when innovation and sustainability are applied to tackling the climate emergency. Africa Climate Week was the first Regional Climate Week to bring key and mandated regional climate meetings under a single umbrella event, with the aim of fostering efficiency, collaboration, and idea-sharing across various tracks.
Speakers emphasized the vital role of climate finance in unlocking Africa’s green energy potential and fostering climate-resilient development, with African leaders advocating for a substantial boost in investments, global financial reforms and greater support for vulnerable countries to address climate challenges effectively.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary
Simon Stiell said: “Africa Climate Week has identified creative solutions that can attract investment, facilitate technology transfer, build and strengthen capacities and position African nations as leaders in sustainable development and climate action. Going forward, let us push for ambitious outcomes at COP28, where we can turn the outcomes of this summit into a global consensus and, most importantly, into reality.”
Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP)
Achim Steiner said: “Climate change is a moment to look beyond differences and apply the lens of opportunity including ground-breaking investments in renewable energies as well as adaptation. The continent of Africa, home to world’s youngest population, is already on the sharp edge of combining access to electricity with this new pathways of development through decarbonization.
Yet there is a pressing need to combine the climate action solutions that are sprouting up across Africa with brand-new sources of finance to ensure that communities everywhere can bolster their climate resilience on a continent that is heating up faster that other parts of the planet; and deliver a range of new opportunities like jobs and livelihoods.”
