Morocco Takes Part in Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi

The Summit, which runs until Wednesday, brings together African heads of state and government, world leaders, development partners, civil society organizations, researchers, academics and a range of stakeholders, with the aim of addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change and fostering collaboration for a sustainable future.

In his opening address, Kenyan President William Ruto stressed the imperative of joint action and convergence of efforts to address the challenges facing the African continent, calling in particular for investment in viable solutions offered by renewable energies, green industrialization, climate-smart agriculture and nature conservation.

« Trillions of dollars worldwide are looking for green investment opportunities, » highlighted the Kenyan President, noting that Africa holds the key to accelerating the decarbonization of the global economy.

For her part, Kenya’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Soipan Tuya, noted that the Summit offers Africans the opportunity to develop and present a bold new vision of Africa as a continent with enormous potential and abundant opportunities that can be used to solve the climate crisis.

In this regard, she called on participants to explore options for optimizing Africa’s abundant human and natural resources, in order to transition to a low-emissions economy, while opening up new opportunities in climate finance, trade, investment, innovation, resilience and green jobs.

The agenda for the summit includes various panels covering various topics, such as climate finance in Africa, the transformation of food systems on the continent, expediting climate-resilient water investments, and tapping into Africa’s renewable energy potential.

Debates will delve into subjects such as carbon markets in the southern hemisphere, green hydrogen, investments in nature and biodiversity, the development of integrated African cities, and the significance of ocean governance and the blue economy in Africa.

Through this three-day gathering, Africa seeks to strengthen global efforts related to climate financing, underscore the continent’s vast potential, and cultivate new partnerships in the realms of sustainable growth, particularly in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture.

The event is expected to culminate in the Nairobi Declaration on Green Growth and Climate Finance, and pave the way for a new global financial agreement that includes financing instruments/products tailored to specific growth objectives.

The meeting will also be an opportunity for the various decision-makers and stakeholders to make investment commitments, notably through multi-billion dollar green investment agreements in Africa, covering all the themes addressed by the summit.