By Faridat Salifu
In a move to boost climate action in Africa, several Western philanthropies, led by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Global Alliance for People and Planet, have pledged $10 million to accelerate investment in renewable energy projects across the continent.
This funding announcement comes as global climate finance talks gain momentum ahead of next week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The funds will be directed towards 15 green energy initiatives in countries such as Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria. These projects are part of broader efforts by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to tackle the energy transition in Africa, where millions still lack access to electricity.
Raj Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation, emphasized the need for public-private partnerships to address the region’s mounting debt and capital outflows, which are stalling progress on climate initiatives. “This partnership will help overcome the macro challenges of debt distress and provide a pathway for accelerating Africa’s clean energy transition,” Shah said.
While Western philanthropies bolster climate financing efforts, China’s green lending in Africa has gained traction in recent months. According to data from Boston University, Chinese state-owned enterprises have provided $500 million in loans for renewable energy projects, including a $50 million solar initiative in Burkina Faso and a $240 million hydropower plant in Madagascar.
Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his country’s commitment to climate cooperation with Africa during the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, where discussions focused on strengthening ties and promoting sustainable energy development.
Despite these efforts, the financial strain on African nations remains a significant barrier to progress. African governments are projected to spend nearly $90 billion servicing debt in 2024, according to analysis by advocacy group ONE.
The burden of debt distress has been particularly acute for low-income countries eligible to borrow from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), with two-thirds of these nations already classified as being at high risk.
The World Bank has flagged the urgent need for a substantial replenishment of IDA funds to continue providing concessional loans and grants to support the energy transition in developing countries.
However, with its largest shareholders, including the United States and Japan, facing economic pressures at home, securing these funds has become a complex challenge.
As climate finance negotiations continue, the question of which countries should bear the financial responsibility for the global energy transition remains a contentious issue. While developing nations argue that wealthier countries, which historically contributed the most to greenhouse gas emissions, should shoulder the financial burden, Western nations are calling on emerging economies like China, India, and Saudi Arabia to also contribute.
The African continent, despite contributing only 2-3 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including flooding and desertification.
According to the Climate Policy Initiative and the Global Center on Adaptation, Africa will need an additional $41.3 billion in annual investment to meet the Paris Agreement targets.
Shah noted the importance of collaboration in addressing these challenges. “Global cooperation requires both public and private sector involvement. Neither can achieve these goals alone,” he said.
As discussions intensify ahead of COP29 later this year, all eyes are on how global financial commitments will shape the future of climate action, particularly in Africa, where the stakes for sustainable energy development and climate resilience remain high.