Ruto champions Green Industrialisation as Africa prepares for COP29

The meeting, hosted by Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, sought to align Africa's strategy for the upcoming COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, as well as highlight the continent's bold climate agenda.

President Ruto, in his opening remarks, reaffirmed Africa’s leadership role in advancing climate-positive growth, citing the Nairobi Declaration as a transformative blueprint. 

Endorsed by the African Union (AU), the Declaration positions Africa as a global leader in sustainable development by combining economic growth and climate resilience.

"Africa is at a crossroads," President Ruto remarked. "While we are disproportionately affected by climate impacts, we also possess the resources and potential to drive global green growth." 

He emphasised the critical need for strategic investments, pointing out that Africa is currently facing severe climate challenges such as prolonged droughts in Southern Africa, catastrophic floods in the Sahel and West Africa, and desertification throughout North Africa.

President Ruto also announced the establishment of the African Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII), a collaborative platform aimed at attracting significant investments in large-scale green industrial and infrastructure projects across the continent.

The initiative, which brings together African leaders, international financial institutions, industry, and the philanthropic sectors, is an important step towards transitioning Africa to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.

"Investments in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and nature-based solutions are key to ensuring that Africa not only adapts to climate change but thrives in a new global economic paradigm," Ruto stressed.

Despite global investment in the energy transition reaching a record $1.8 trillion in 2023, Africa received less than 3% of that total.

With a growing population and significant energy poverty, Ruto emphasised the need for an immediate correction of this imbalance.

The Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA), which was launched at COP28, aims to mobilise capital, technical expertise, and private-sector participation to increase Africa's renewable energy capacity.

Ruto announced that Nairobi will host a historic Investment Forum next month in collaboration with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to highlight Africa's vast renewable energy potential and mineral wealth.

"Africa attracted only 0.6% of the 473 GW of new global renewable energy capacity in 2023. This stark disparity must be addressed," he said.

A significant reform effort is underway, with Ruto revealing that he has written to the incoming COP29 Presidency requesting a high-level political event titled "Measuring the Green Wealth of Nations: Natural Capital and Economic Productivity in Africa."

The event, which will be led by Congo Basin countries and the African Development Bank, aims to redefine GDP to account for natural capital, resulting in a more accurate measurement of national wealth.

He also praised the African Union Commission's decision to create a new Secretariat for the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change.

This organisation will coordinate Africa's climate initiatives, streamline governance, and strengthen Africa's position in global climate negotiations.

With Africa facing some of the world's most serious climate-related challenges, President Ruto and other African leaders are promoting a shared vision for a sustainable future.