September 8, 2023, Nairobi – The inaugural African Climate Summit concluded with a weak and insufficient declaration, making it clear that colonial-era attitudes from the Global North continue to shape Africa’s climate policies. The Summit imposed failing and dangerous carbon markets on the continent, rather than offering tangible solutions for Africa’s climate future.
African People Stand Firm on Fossil Fuel Phase-Out
Despite the Summit’s outcome, African communities remain committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels. However, the Global North continues to push a neocolonial agenda, using carbon markets as a tool for land-grabbing in Africa.
A Spark for African Climate Movements
The Summit has ignited a wave of grassroots climate movements across the continent, mobilizing people to resist these dangerous distractions and advocate for Africa to harness its immense potential for renewable energy.
In response to the Summit’s results, Mohamed Adow, Founding Director of think tank Power Shift Africa, stated:
“We had hoped that this first African Climate Summit would bring forth a bold, people-centered vision for Africa. Unfortunately, the final declaration was disappointingly similar to previous summits that produced inadequate outcomes. Africa should be leading a path rooted in Pan-African solidarity, prioritizing people over profit, and leveraging our unique historical position alongside our vast renewable energy potential. Instead of committing to meaningful public funding for African renewable projects and climate adaptation, wealthy countries pledged money to prop up carbon markets that have consistently failed—not only in Africa but globally. These funds should be invested in real solutions, not perpetuating ineffective schemes.”
Rising Awareness and Exposing Hidden Agendas
Despite its shortcomings, the Summit has had some positive effects, particularly in raising awareness about the climate crisis and exposing vested interests at play.
Mohamed Adow added:
“This Summit has awakened a sleeping giant in the form of people’s power and mobilization. Africa, which has often been seen as least responsible, most affected, and least informed about climate change, is now waking up. While other major summits have taken place on African soil before, none has stirred public consciousness like this one. The problematic way this meeting was driven by specific interests has ignited a new understanding of what is at stake and what needs to be done.”
Western Interference and Private Sector Dominance
The lead-up to the Summit was marred by criticism of Western interference, with many pointing out that interests from the Global North heavily influenced the agenda.
Ikal Ang’elei from Friends of Lake Turkana voiced her concerns:
“US climate envoy John Kerry and the US’s lead negotiator for COP28, Trigg Talley, were present, even though this was not a UNFCCC negotiation. So, what were they doing here? Northern countries and corporations have pledged vast sums to establish carbon markets in Africa, but these schemes primarily benefit polluting companies, fossil fuel giants, and carbon credit brokers, while communities lose their land. Carbon credits are essentially ‘pollution permits,’ allowing wealthy corporations to continue polluting without meaningfully reducing their carbon footprints.”
Joab Okanda of Christian Aid also highlighted the deeper structural issues:
“This Declaration rightly points out how the global economy systematically disadvantages Africa, excluding African voices from economic decision-making. When all financial flows, including trade, aid, and debt, are considered, the Global South loses over $2 trillion to the Global North every year. In this context, the billions discussed at these summits fall woefully short. What Africa needs is not just aid or climate finance, but real structural change in global value chains and resource flows. Regrettably, this Summit failed to articulate a vision for this systemic change, focusing instead on selling off African land to polluters. The People’s Declaration, on the other hand, offers a far more inspiring and practical vision that governments must take seriously as they plan ahead.”
People’s Mobilization for Long-Term Action
The disappointing outcomes of the Summit have further mobilized African grassroots movements.
Mary Afan, a smallholder farmer representing over two million women farmers in Nigeria, said:
“We may be disappointed with the Summit’s results, but we’re not just going to lament—we’re organizing. This is a long-term struggle, and our leaders won’t be able to ignore us. This week, we witnessed a powerful People’s Assembly, a climate justice march in Nairobi, and the release of a People’s Declaration that lays out a far more inspiring and practical roadmap than the one endorsed by politicians.”
Fossil Fuel Lobby and Partial Victory
In recent years, the fossil fuel industry has intensified its exploitation of Africa, using the continent not only for fossil fuel extraction but also to expand carbon trading markets—essentially creating a system of “pollution permits.” While carbon markets were heavily promoted at the Summit, there was a small victory in that explicit fossil fuel promotion was absent from the final Declaration.
Marina Agortimevor from the Africa Coal Network commented:
“Africa is the youngest continent, with vast renewable resources, fertile land, and 40% of the world’s critical minerals for the energy transition. African people are committed to phasing out fossil fuels, and countries like Kenya are already approaching a 100% renewable electricity mix. Fossil fuel lobbyists didn’t get everything they wanted from this Summit, which is a victory. But to truly develop and prosper, African countries need real funding for renewable energy and adaptation projects that focus on people, not profit.”
Hadi Yakubu of Africans Rising added:
“Africa’s critical minerals are the next battleground. We’re already seeing elite interests from foreign governments, major corporations, and even our own ministries trying to capture these resources, repeating the same failed patterns of extractivism we’ve seen with fossil fuels, commodities, and crops. We must ensure that these resources are used for the development of Africa and not exported in deals that leave communities behind. We need a critical minerals plan that includes environmental safeguards, community ownership, and Pan-African industrial planning to build Africa’s renewable energy capabilities. Without that, true sovereignty will remain out of reach.”