Kenya’s President opened a historic climate summit in Nairobi on Monday September 3, aiming at making Africa an emerging power in green growth and soliciting international financial support to unlock the continent’s “unparalleled opportunities”.
This first African Climate Summit kicks off the busiest four months of the year for international climate negotiations, culminating in a battle over the end of fossil fuels at COP28 in Dubai from late November to early December.
For three days, leaders and officials from Africa and elsewhere, including UN chief António Guterres, are welcomed to the Kenyan capital by President William Ruto, who hopes the summit will enable the continent to find a common language on development and climate, in order to “propose African solutions” at COP28.
Earlier, on X (formerly Twitter), he had called on the international community to release funds for the continent and ease the debt burden on African countries. According to Mr. Ruto, Africa has the potential to be entirely self-sufficient in energy thanks to renewable resources. Kenya, he pointed out, is aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2030.