Last year in Baku, world leaders pledged to triple global climate finance, a landmark promise that now faces its first real test. As, attention shifts to Belém, Brazil, the so-called “Implementation COP” will reveal whether multilateralism can finally move beyond rhetoric to deliver real results.

 

For Africa, the stakes are high. The continent stands at the crossroads of climate vulnerability and opportunity: home to less than 4% of global emissions but suffering the sharpest economic losses from climate shocks. Yet, its climate narrative is evolving, from one of victimhood to one of strategic agency. No longer waiting for aid, Africa is seeking investment to power its green transformation and, in doing so, contributes to meeting the world’s climate goals.

 

At the same time, Africa’s climate story is increasingly one of innovation under constraint. Across the continent, new industrial pilots are testing how renewable energy can fuel value creation, from green hydrogen to solar-powered fertilizer and desalination projects. The continent holds some of the world’s strongest solar and wind potential, yet scaling these technologies will depend on affordable finance, modernized grids, and stable export markets.

 

If these conditions align, Africa could capture a share of the emerging global market for green hydrogen, sustainable fuels, and low-carbon materials, transforming its role from a raw-material supplier to a producer of climate solutions. But this trajectory will require deliberate policy choices: nurturing local industry, lowering the cost of capital, and embedding renewable energy in productive value chains rather than export corridors alone.

 

Carbon markets and critical minerals add further dimensions. To unlock their potential, Africa needs integrated, transparent, and Africa-led governance systems that assign fair value to carbon assets while channeling revenues into local priorities, from resilient agriculture to renewable energy and adaptation infrastructure.

 

This transformation hinges on two critical imperatives: financing and fairness. Loans at commercial rates will not deliver a just transition. Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) must evolve from risk avoidance to risk sharing, providing predictable, concessional, and accessible financing that reflects Africa’s development realities. Reforming governance structures, lowering borrowing costs, and ensuring stronger African representation are essential to credible and inclusive climate action.

 

As COP30 unfolds, Africa’s agenda is clear: make adaptation a pillar of industrial policy, embed climate finance into trade and technology partnerships, and harness critical minerals for value addition, not mere extraction. Thirty years after the first COP, the era of promises is over. What matters now is delivery, and for Africa, the question is no longer whether Africa will adapt, but whether it will secure the means to lead its own sustainable future.

COP AND CLIMATE FINANCE

FROM ONE COP TO THE NEXT: How Has Climate Finance Commitment Evolved During the Past Decades?

 

Larabi Jaïdi, Rim Berahab, Sabrine Emran

 

COP29 in Baku delivered mixed results: it set the new collective quantified goal, pledged $300B annually in climate finance by 2035, and advanced Article 6 carbon markets. Yet, funding falls short for developing countries, transparency gaps and greenwashing risks persist, and momentum on fossil-fuel divestment remains weak amid geopolitical divisions. How will COP30 in Brazil build on these outcomes to accelerate climate action and ensure support reaches the most vulnerable countries?... Read more

 

Strengthening Climate Finance for Loss and Damage in the Mediterranean region

 

Khalid R Temsamani, Hafsa El Bekri

 

This paper examines the multifaceted loss and damage caused by climate change, from extreme weather to gradual environmental degradation, affecting lives, livelihoods, and cultural heritage. Vulnerable populations bear the heaviest burden, facing food insecurity, displacement, and deepened inequalities. It highlights strategic solutions for the Mediterranean, including equitable climate finance, Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus integration, and inclusive recovery frameworks. Addressing these impacts holistically is both a moral and practical imperative to build resilience and climate justice... Read more

 

Empowering Debt for Climate Swaps to Finance the Green Transition in Africa

 

Malancha Chakrabarty, Karim El Aynaoui, Youssef El Jai, Badr Mandri, Manish K Shrivastava

 

The rapid rise in public debt, coupled with the climate emergency, imposes a dual constraint on African countries, severely limiting their ability to pursue sustainable development and mitigate the effects of climate change. This critical situation calls for innovative and effective solutions capable of transforming obstacles into opportunities for a more resilient and prosperous future. This paper highlights the imperative to rethink traditional financing mechanisms and explore innovative approaches that promote both debt relief and climate action... Read more

 

(FR) Ten Years On from the Paris Agreement: Where Do We Stand?

 

Mounia Boucetta

 

Ten years after the Paris Agreement, the world is still on track for a 2.8°C temperature rise, and climate commitments are struggling to translate into concrete action. COP30 in Brazil therefore emerges as a crucial turning point to accelerate the energy transition, strengthen international solidarity, and protect the most vulnerable. Despite some progress, financing remains insufficient and climate leadership fragmented. The question remains: will this decade of warnings finally give way to a decade of action?... Read more

 

REGIONAL CLIMATE CHALLENGES AND TRANSITIONS

Climate Policy Under the Trump Administration

 

Rim Berahab

 

The reversal of federal climate policy under a second Trump administration is reshaping the U.S. economy, prioritizing fossil fuels at the expense of long-term low-carbon competitiveness. The dismantling of the Inflation Reduction Act has disrupted investment in clean technologies and weakened regulatory certainty. This shift risks eroding U.S. leadership in strategic industrial sectors as Europe and China accelerate ahead. International finance gaps and rising trade frictions further threaten global cooperation and U.S. economic resilience... Read more

 

Africa is Still Heavily Dependent on Fossil Fuels

 

Françis Perrin

 

Africa’s energy system remains dominated by fossil fuels, making the shift to cleaner alternatives especially challenging. The continent’s overall energy demand is still very small compared to its population size, reflecting deep development and access gaps. Per capita consumption remains low and is struggling to keep pace with rapid demographic growth. As a result, many countries continue to rely on hydrocarbons as a strategic pillar for economic stability and energy security... Read more

 

The Water-Energy Nexus: The Path to Solving the Water Crisis in the Middle East and North Africa

 

Ferid Bekhaj

 

The MENA region faces an acute water crisis driven by climate pressures, rapid population growth, and inefficient governance systems. Water supply requires significant energy, while much of the region’s energy production also depends on water, creating a fragile interdependence. Advancing renewable-powered desalination, modernizing networks, and scaling wastewater reuse are critical to resilience. Coordinated regional action and innovative financing can secure water resources, boost stability, and protect long-term growth... Read more

 

Climate Mitigation Is Under Attack Africa Must Prioritize Adaptation

 

Hafez Ghanem

 

Africa’s priority is clear: adaptation must come first, as global mitigation efforts remain insufficient to keep temperatures within Paris Agreement targets. With political shifts in major emitting countries and emissions likely to remain high, Africa must urgently prepare for a world approaching 3°C of warming. This does not mean abandoning pressure on the Global North, which bears historical responsibility for the crisis. Rather, Africa must demand climate justice and substantial support to strengthen its resilience and protect its people... Read more

 

CARBON MARKETS IN AFRICA

From Theory to Practice: Making Carbon Pricing Work

 

Rim Berahab

 

This paper compares carbon taxes and emissions trading systems (ETS) in terms of effectiveness, implementation, and revenue generation. It argues that carbon pricing must be part of a broader policy framework aligned with national priorities and global equity to ensure its success, with effectiveness depending on careful design tailored to each country’s context... Read more

 

Voluntary Carbon Markets in Africa

 

Sabrina Camélia Pagop, Luc Savard

 

This study examines the rising role of voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) in Africa, highlighting both opportunities and challenges for the continent’s participation. While VCMs offer financial incentives and potential climate benefits, questions remain about the legitimacy and real impact of carbon credits. Historically, African countries have been mostly passive participants, but strategic engagement could enhance sustainable development and strengthen contributions to climate mitigation and adaptation. The study provides insights on how Africa can navigate these markets to maximize both environmental and socio-economic gains... Read more

 

Potential or Peril: Carbon Trading in Africa

 

Mannat Jaspal

 

Carbon trading has been promoted as a key solution to channel climate finance into African countries that lack sufficient resources for mitigation and adaptation. Both the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, particularly Article 6, recognize its role in reducing global emissions. Carbon credits are generated by avoiding, reducing, or removing greenhouse gases through cleaner energy, efficiency gains, and forest conservation. These credits can be traded not only under Article 6 mechanisms, but also through domestic compliance markets like the EU ETS and voluntary carbon markets where entities offset emissions by supporting mitigation activities... Read more

 

How to Make Carbon Pricing Work for Africa

 

Rim Berahab, Otaviano Canuto

 

Carbon pricing can help Africa cut emissions while generating vital revenue for development, but it must be fair and tailored to local realities. Standardized global rules risk overlooking energy poverty and could burden vulnerable households without strong support and reinvestment. By recycling revenues into clean energy, health, and education, and deploying phased approaches, public-private partnerships, and nature-based solutions, carbon pricing can drive inclusive growth. As COP30 approaches, Africa must push for equitable mechanisms that advance climate justice and strengthen resilience... Read more

 

PCNS PODCAST

Climate Governance Tested by the Crisis of Multilateralism

 

Global climate governance remains resilient despite the U.S. federal withdrawal and rising climate skepticism. The energy transition is now economically inevitable, with solar and wind emerging as the world’s cheapest power sources. China leads in decarbonization, while numerous U.S. states, cities, and companies continue to advance climate action. A broad coalition, including Europe, BRICS, Africa, and Latin America, keeps the global transition on course... Listen

POWER-TO-X VISIONARIES PODCASTS

Conversation with Leila Benali on Morocco’s Energy Transition

 

This episode explores Morocco’s comprehensive energy transition strategy, emphasizing sovereignty, competitiveness, and decarbonization. It highlights infrastructure priorities, including grids, ports, storage, and LNG, and situates green hydrogen as a key lever within the energy mix. The discussion also focuses on Morocco’s role as a regional connector between Africa and Europe and its ambition to become a global clean energy hub. The episode underscores the social dimension of the transition, including jobs, regional development, and affordability, with milestones expected by 2030... Watch

Europe and Morocco: Building the Hydrogen Partnership

 

This episode explores how green hydrogen can drive Morocco’s energy transition and economic development, with a focus on export opportunities to Europe, integration into industrial value chains, and the development of supporting infrastructure. It highlights financing mechanisms and technology transfer as key enablers for scaling up projects, while also addressing regulatory challenges and the importance of regional cooperation to enhance competitiveness... Watch

The Green Hydrogen 'Morocco Offer': From Vision to Implementation

 

This episode explores Morocco’s green hydrogen offer, focusing on governance frameworks, ecosystem development, and flagship projects. It highlights strategic national initiatives and partnerships with industry stakeholders, while addressing technological advances, regulatory hurdles, and investment prospects. The discussion provides a comprehensive outlook on Morocco’s positioning as a key player in the global green hydrogen transition...Watch

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