African entrepreneurs developing climate solutions will, for the first time, have a continental platform to engage directly with international investors at the upcoming Africa Climate Investment Summit (ACIS), a lead-up to COP30 in Brazil.
The three-day summit is expected to draw more than 1,500 participants, including innovators, financiers, policymakers, and development partners.
According to Kenya Climate Innovation Center CEO Joseph Marabula, it aims to close the gap between African climate innovations and the funding needed to scale them.
“African entrepreneurs are solving pressing climate challenges, but too often they lack the support to scale. The Climate Investment Summit will change this by connecting them directly with investors and positioning Africa as a hub for climate-smart innovation. This is about creating opportunities, jobs, and a future where Africa leads in climate solutions,” he said.
The Nairobi meeting follows the Africa Climate Summit held in Addis Ababa just recently, attended by key African leaders, including President William Ruto.
It also comes two years after Nairobi hosted the first Africa Climate Summit, which produced the 2023 Nairobi Declaration — a unified African Union position calling for new financing mechanisms, including a global carbon tax on fossil fuel trade, shipping and aviation.
The summit will see the launch of the Africa Climate Investment Platform and Revolving Fund, designed to channel financing into climate-smart enterprises.
It will also consolidate Africa’s position through the African Climate Investment Manifesto, to be presented at COP30.
At the moment, Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions but suffers some of the worst effects of climate change.
The World Meteorological Organization estimates losses of over Sh 904bn ($7 billion) annually from droughts, erratic rainfall, water shortages, biodiversity loss, and energy poverty.
Despite this vulnerability, the continent holds 60% of the world’s best solar resources, vast fertile land, and diverse ecosystems, assets seen as key to building a resilient, low-carbon future.
Kenya, which emits less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gases, remains among the countries most exposed to climate risks.