Erik Berglof

BEIJING – As South Africa prepares to take over the G20’s rotating presidency, its government has vowed to make 2025 the “year of Africa.” At the same time, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil (COP30) will serve as a litmus test for global climate action, revealing how much progress the world’s largest polluters have made in fulfilling their commitments to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions and provide climate finance to developing countries.

Given that Africa accounts for just 4 percent of global GHG emissions and bears little historical responsibility for climate change, the continent has understandably been reluctant to embrace the net-zero agenda. As the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa noted in its latest State of the Climate in Africa Report, what African countries truly need is to boost investment in climate adaptation and resilience.

But a shift appears to be underway. As African economies recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and large amounts of capital flow into climate mitigation, many policymakers are recognizing the pivotal role that investment could play in fueling a massive wave of technological innovation and green growth across the continent.

Green tech could be a game-changer for Africa, and recent developments suggest that this emerging sector may hold the key to overcoming the continent’s long-term growth challenges.........

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