At the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from September 4–6, new projects supported by the UK totaling £49 million will be launched. These initiatives will concentrate on raising money for climate action and assisting people in managing climate change’s effects across the continent, two crucial fronts in Africa’s fight against climate change.
The investment will contribute to the growth of economies, the improvement of the lives of women, farmers, and communities at risk.
The launch demonstrates the strength and capacity of UK-Africa collaborations and fulfills the pledge made by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverley during his visit to Kenya in December 2022 to make honest, trustworthy investments in Africa.
The established CLARE, CIWA, and WISER programs will receive £34 million for new initiatives in fifteen African nations to assist women, at-risk communities, and more than 400,000 farmers in becoming resilient to the consequences of climate change. The projects will also increase the water security for more than 1.5 million people. Early warning technologies, such text alerts, radio, and social networks, will assist hard-to-reach populations take action before extreme climate events occur.
UK Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell, said: Our partnerships with African countries on green investment and climate resilience are growing economies and improving lives. But more action has to be taken, as those least responsible for climate change are increasingly bearing the brunt of its effects.
The UK is working closely with African partners to fight climate change, boost resilience and help those whose lives are most impacted.
While in Nairobi, the Minister will reaffirm the UK’s commitment to providing £11.6bn international climate finance over five years, and will call for rapid reform of the international financial system to unlock trillions of dollars to combat climate change. He will also welcome the launch of Weza Power, a new partnership between the Government of Burundi and UK-backed company Virunga Power, to expand energy access to almost 70% of Burundi’s population.
In addition, he will visit Nairobi Railway City, a regeneration of the city center designed by British architects with the latest green technology and KES 11.5bn of UK investment. This is one of six climate investment projects fast-tracked by President Ruto and Prime Minister Sunak at COP27. Since the meeting, construction has begun, and ground has been broken at a second project.
Minister Mitchell will also announce details of the third successive Climate and Development Ministerial, hosted by the COP28 UAE Presidency and the UK ahead of COP28, with Malawi and Vanuatu as co-chairs. The Ministerial was first launched by the UK ahead of COP26 to generate tangible outcomes for climate finance access and loss and damage.
