Africa's Climate Crossroads: Fair Fossil Fuel Phase-Out and Fund Mobilization

The Urgent Need for an African Climate Summit

Africa is facing a dual challenge: a lack of access to clean energy and the growing impacts of climate change. Nearly 600 million people across the continent still lack access to electricity, while close to one billion rely on traditional biofuels for cooking. Despite contributing less than 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions over the past 170 years, Africa is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This has led to the establishment of the Second Africa Climate Summit, which aims to address these pressing issues.

Why Africa Needs Its Own Climate Summit

African countries have made commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, but transitioning to renewable energy requires significant financial investment. Currently, only 3% of Africa’s electricity comes from solar energy, and renewable energy supplies just 24.1% of the continent’s power, with 76% coming from hydropower—often affected by changing weather patterns. To move away from fossil fuels, African nations need between $1.6 trillion and $1.9 trillion by 2030.

However, much of the available climate finance comes in the form of loans, leading to increased debt burdens. Approximately 751 million Africans are negatively impacted by government spending on repaying high-interest external debt instead of investing in climate resilience and sustainable development.

Global Initiatives Fall Short

Global energy initiatives often overlook Africa’s unique needs. For example, the World Bank and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 project aims to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030, but it will leave another 300 million without access. Additionally, the 2023 COP28 conference pledged to triple global renewable energy investments, yet Africa currently receives only about 4% of global climate funding. This highlights the urgent need for Africa to have its own platform to advocate for fairer global responses.

Progress Since the First Summit

The first Africa Climate Summit in 2023 produced the Nairobi Declaration, which called for a 43% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and urged the fulfillment of the long-overdue $100 billion annual climate finance pledge. It also emphasized a fair phase-down of coal and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, as well as a fivefold increase in funding for renewable energy systems.

Since then, some progress has been made, including the launch of the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative and the Continental Circular Economy Action Plan (2024–2034). These programs aim to create green jobs, empower youth and women, and position Africa as a leader in climate-resilient growth.

Key Topics for the 2025 Summit

The 2025 summit will focus on six main agenda items:

1. Reimagining Climate Finance and Investment Architecture – Discussions will center on easier lending terms, restructured debt, and using domestic currencies for national projects.
2. Accelerating Renewable Energy and Technological Transformation – Africa’s vast solar and wind potential will be explored to bring electricity to the 600 million without power by 2030.
3. Scaling Nature-Based and Community-Led Solutions – Indigenous knowledge and ecosystems will be highlighted as powerful tools for mitigation and adaptation.
4. Strengthening Strategic Governance and Global Partnerships – Multilateral cooperation and technology transfer will be prioritized.
5. Harnessing Critical Minerals for Green Industrialisation – Africa holds over 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves, essential for clean energy technologies.
6. Advancing Regional Implementation Mechanisms – Addressing the gap between policy and action will be a key focus.

Indigenous Knowledge and Decentralised Energy Systems

Indigenous knowledge systems offer untapped potential for climate solutions. When combined with modern technologies, they can enhance resilience and support green economies. Decentralised renewable energy systems provide reliable power to rural communities, reducing emissions and creating jobs.

Inclusive Participation and Shared Ownership

Civil society organisations and international institutions have played a role in ensuring that local voices are included in the summit’s discussions. This bottom-up approach promotes inclusivity and shared ownership of the outcomes.

Ultimately, the success of the summit depends on African leaders’ ability to unite around a common vision. With strong leadership and collaboration, Africa can not only combat climate change but also emerge as a global climate leader.