Article Author: Olivia Rumble

Prominent African Countries Feature at the Santa Marta Fossil Fuel Transition Conference

After Santa Marta, there is little hope for a new treaty, but the proposed trade measures are interesting. Following mixed messaging at COP30, several prominent African countries demonstrated their support for an equitable transition away from fossil fuels.
  • net zero and just transition

Hormuz induced Food Crisis should Compel Revisitation of Food Stockpiling Rules

The pending food crisis that is likely to be felt in Africa as a result of fertilizer shortages from the Gulf warrants a rethink of how African countries navigate food security and WTO rules against public food stockpiling.
  • Adaptation

AGN Meets in Ghana to Refine Climate Strategy

The AGN is hosting a three day strategic meeting in Ghana to refine its climate priorities and build a firm strategy that navigates and responds to geopolitics, energy security, industrial competition and finance developments.
  • African Climate Policy

WTO Ministerial Sees Incremental Climate Progress, with New Climate and Trade Body Geared to Bridge the Divide 

At the WTO’s Ministerial Conference, the Integrated Forum on Climate Change and Trade lamented the limitations of the current regimes and proffered a space for trade and climate ministers to work together.
  • Climate and Trade

UNFCCC Finance Committee Still Unable to Make Clear Climate Finance Findings 

With a new COP30 Climate Finance Work Programme created, the importance of good data to feed into negotiations has never been higher. But the SCF still can’t agree on what counts.
  • Climate Finance

AU Summit Underscores Industrialisation, Climate, Security and Trade Nexus

The recent AU Summit highlighted the centrality of African regional integration, the AfCFTA, industrialisation, local value, and integrated climate and industrial policy, with momentum behind climate and security measures.
  • African Climate Policy

Can South Africa Legally Walk Back its Carbon Tax?

Can a country lawfully walk back a central tenet of its mitigation policy in its NDC under the Paris Agreement? We discuss the proposal to suspend South Africa’s carbon tax.
  • Climate Finance

South Africa Criticizes DRC Approach to Critical minerals as US Interest Piques

The Mining Indaba has exposed simmering tensions between South Africa and the DRC over the latter’s recent deals with the US, while US interest in the continent’s minerals intensifies dramatically.
  • African Climate Policy

Looking Back: 2025 in Review

2025 was a whirlwind year for Africa’s climate agenda, with both internal and external events shaping the continent’s positions and priorities. We break down the themes and topics that defined the year, and what may lay ahead for 2026.
  • Uncategorized

Thirty COPs and Robbers: Key Outcomes from the Negotiations

This year’s COP30 talks proffered the same tensions, particularly around finance, increased ambition, burden shifting, and how to agree to the detail needed to support the implementation of existing aspirations and commitments. The final text is strong on new initiatives but weak on accountability mechanisms. Overcoming this impasse will be key to Africa successfully hosting the talks at COP32.
  • Climate Negotiations