Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has said the African Climate Summit to be held in Nairobi between 4-6 September will be a platform for the continent to showcase its climate action potential in niche sectors such as renewable energy, carbon sinks, sustainable agriculture and critical minerals. She stated that “at the summit, we will ask African countries to come and display their critical minerals potential. We will make a case for the processing of Lithium, Cobalt and other critical minerals in Africa, to not only create jobs for our youthful population but also to reduce the carbon footprints that are due to processing elsewhere.” At a recent diplomatic briefing of African Ambassadors on the summit’s preparations, she said that the it will be an important platform to pitch for and attract new development partners to support the continent’s green growth agenda, with a focus being on trade and investment instead of “aid for climate change”. Kenya is looking to adopt a Nairobi African leaders declaration at the summit, that will include climate finance priorities and reform proposals for multilateral development banks.
