EMEA researcher Sara Ronco represented the Euro-Mediterranean Economists to the Africa Climate Summit 2023, which took place in Nairobi on 4-6 September 2023, co-organised by the African Union and the Republic of Kenya.
The Africa Climate Summit theme was ‘Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World, aiming to influence climate commitments, pledges and outcomes, including the Nairobi Declaration, a blueprint for Africa’s green energy transition.
The summit was attended by African Heads of State and Government, global leaders, development partners, civil society organizations, researchers, academia and relevant stakeholders. Outside attendees to the summit include the U.S. government’s climate envoy, John Kerry, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
At the summit, Kenyan President William Ruto underlined that “Africa’s 54 countries must go green fast before industrializing and not vice versa, unlike (richer nations) had the luxury to do. Transforming Africa’s economy on a green trajectory is the most feasible, just and efficient way to attain a net-zero world by 2050,”
The U.N. has estimated that loss and damage in Africa due to climate change are projected to be between $290 billion and $440 billion in the period from 2020 to 2030, depending on the degree of warming. On the other hand, the African continent has 60% of the world’s renewable energy assets and more than 30% of the minerals key to renewable and low-carbon technologies. One goal of the summit is to transform the narrative around the continent from victim to assertive, wealthy partner.
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