Africa is not responsible for climate crisis: Activist Vanessa Nakate
Climate activist Vanessa Nakate says she is determined to raise awareness of how global warming is affecting Africa.
African nations are campaigning for greater climate finance at the UN General Assembly, showcasing homegrown solutions that are already proving effective in mitigating the effects of climate change. Projects across the continent are restoring farmland, reforesting coastlines, and providing loans to smallholder farmers. The 2026 Africa Sustainable Development Report highlights notable gains in water, energy, industrialization, sustainable cities, and partnerships.
However, the pace of progress remains insufficient due to financing constraints, infrastructure gaps, climate shocks, conflict, rising debt service costs, and institutional capacity limitations.
African countries are advocating for long-term financing that outlasts donor grants. Initiatives like the Africa Rural Climate Adaptation Finance Mechanism, set up by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Equity Group, aim to channel climate adaptation finance to farmers through commercial lending. In Tanzania’s Mwanza region, a $2.9-million grant is expanding a system that mixes trees, fruit, vegetables, grain, and fodder into agricultural plots, boosting soil health and yield.
Similarly, in Kenya’s Gazi Bay, mangrove restoration is underway, with 65,000 seedlings planted on 6ha. In Zanzibar, 3,300ha of mangrove and coral rag forests are being rehabilitated in 16 community-managed areas.
The report identifies five priorities for accelerating action: stronger domestic tax collection, increased climate and development finance, accelerated digital rollout, protection of gains from conflict and climate shocks, and a larger role for resilience in national planning. African governments are expected to use upcoming climate negotiations to push for direct access to adaptation funds, bypassing intermediaries that slow disbursement and impose conditions.
While progress is evident, the challenge remains to ensure that such efforts become the norm rather than isolated exceptions.
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- HOMEGROWN SOLUTIONS: Deserving Africa wants its climate funding dailymaverick.co.za
