From Dependency to Development

For decades, Africa has lived on the promises of climate funding from developed nations, pledges often laden with conditions and delays. These nations whose own economic prosperity was built on the back of fossil fuels now push Africa to embrace renewable energy while continuing to power their industries with coal and oil. This glaring double standard threatens to undermine Africa’s economic sovereignty and risks turning the continent into a laboratory for renewable energy experiments that serve foreign interests over local communities

Innovating for Resilience

Africa is brimming with potential to lead the charge in sustainable development. From investing in renewable energy infrastructure to promoting circular economies and indigenous climate solutions, the continent can redefine what a just transition looks like. Homegrown initiatives such as Kenya’s geothermal energy projects or Rwanda’s green urban planning models are examples of how Africa can build resilience from within. By focusing on localized solutions, Africa can not only reduce its vulnerability to climate shocks but also assert itself as a leader in global climate action. Moreover, African nations must unite in demanding greater accountability from developed countries to drastically reduce their emissions, rather than shifting the burden to developing regions.

Addressing the Social Dimensions

Climate change is not just an environmental issue, it’s a human one. In Africa, its impacts disproportionately affect women, indigenous communities, and public health systems. Women, who often bear the responsibility of providing for families, are hit hardest by droughts, floods, and food insecurity. Indigenous peoples, the stewards of Africa’s rich biodiversity, face displacement and loss of cultural heritage due to climate-driven land degradation. Africa’s climate strategy must integrate these social dimensions. Empowering women through education and resource access, protecting indigenous rights, and strengthening health systems are critical steps in building a climate-resilient continent.

A Vision for Africa’s Climate Sovereignty

COP29 has made one thing clear, Africa cannot entrust its climate future to the Global North. While international cooperation remains vital, true progress demands an African-led revolution in climate action. By rejecting dependency, embracing innovation, and centering its people on climate strategies, Africa can turn its greatest challenge into its greatest opportunity. The time is now for African nations to rise, united in their resolve to build a sustainable and equitable future. Africa has the power to lead the fight against climate change—not as victims, but as visionaries shaping a new global narrative where justice, equity, and resilience take center stage.

Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of the Union of the Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCGLA), underscored this in the morning while underscoring the urgent need for adaptation. 

Speaking  during a panel on emerging digital technologies, he said, “Adaptation is key in climate change resilience,” 

Mbassi also said, “Africa pays double what is going into African care, “ emphasizing that, “Africa  needs to use technology to try and catch up with adaptation.”

This notwithstanding the proposed technology for adaptation for Africa is largely foreign. The continent’s innovations  are less than 10 percent of the globally known ideas.

Notably, Mbassi also underscored the importance of transparency in climate finance. In his view “It is important to have a more transparent system,” 

However, transparency is a bit farfetched, Chris Poullaira, the Chief Technology Officer of Blockchains and Climate Institute, outrightly said while explaining the complexities of global governance. 

In a rather unorthodox stance, he said,” AI is not necessarily the panacea of climate change,”

“If we do not have a robust system that is timely and credible, it will be difficult to address the climate crisis.”

Poullaira believes that the challenges of building prototype technologies for climate change have caused an unspoken mistrust among stakeholders.

But he is not alone, a group of activists at COP29 also lauded his views stating that climate finance is a hoax and decision-makers have decided to make Africans more poorer by deliberately making them pay up for the challenges they already endure.

Whether COP 29 will yield any tangible outcomes to aid Africa’s burden will be told over time. 

In her keynote address, Ms. Kombi emphasized the importance of youth engagement in climate action, noting that young people made up 80% of Kenya’s population. She highlighted that the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) created opportunities for youth to learn about climate issues through workshops, training, and educational initiatives. She also stressed that the time had come to empower the youth as critical stakeholders in the climate agenda.

Notably, the landmark brought together a dynamic cohort of young leaders from Baringo, West Pokot, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Samburu, Turkana and Elgeyo Marakwet, with the aim of, equipping them with skills needed to develop bankable climate proposals and access climate finance. With climate change posing an existential threat, the event was timely as it underscored the critical role of young people in shaping a sustainable future.

Speaking during the convening James Thonjo, the  Youth Coordinator from  the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry said,” We are devoted to ensuring that the youth are engaged in climate finance discussions.”

Thonjo insisted that, “It is only through learning about financing that the youth can be properly prepared to make significant change.”

The program kicked off with a deep dive into Kenya’s legal, policy, and institutional frameworks for climate action. During his presentation, Thonjo highlighted opportunities for youth within the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP 2023-2027) and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 2031-2035), urging participants to seize these spaces to amplify their impact.

Nina Silantoi, Social Justice and Community Engagement Lead at the African Center for Health, Climate & Gender Justice Alliance (ACHCGA) said,“Our future as the youth is secured because we are meaningfully engaged in climate action.”She also said, ” We are the now leaders and our actions will determine our tomorrow.”

Silantoi underscored the pivotal role of young people in driving climate action, arguing that youth are essential in bridging the persistent gap between policy and implementation. Whether these efforts translate into long-term, bankable climate solutions, however, remains to be foretold with time.