🚁 Memo to AUC chairperson: Getting the next climate summit right

TO: Moussa Faki, Chairperson, African Union Commission

SUBJECT: Africa Climate Summit

Chairperson, if we may, you have an extraordinary opportunity to give green businesses in Africa a big push. 

• The African Union, as the host of the Africa Climate Summit, along with the Kenyan government, has transformative convening power for our sustainable future. 

• But the next Africa Climate Summit, currently organised under your auspices, must outperform the last one (see the image above of you speaking then). 

To the point: Our main advice can be summed up thus – Africa's premier climate event must be different from the failing climate shindigs in the global north.

• You have a chance to build a new kind of climate summit. 

• That would also cement your legacy as a climate leader.

Good start: The first summit in 2023 was a success. It’s hard convening 30,000 people, including 20 heads of state, and getting them to take joint action.

• European leaders in attendance pledged new money.

• Private sector engagement including from China is up. 

Next time: More of the same is nice – but not enough. The first thing that successful future summits need is true unanimity. 

• Nigeria, South Africa and several other countries were somewhat reluctant participants last time. 

• Luckily, they have since changed course and embraced the green economy. Let’s build on that. 

Aim high: The second thing that’s required for a big win is doubling down on private-sector investment. 

• We know the cavalry in the form of taxpayer money isn’t coming. It’s business or bust.

• Wholesale reform of trade and investment practices should top your summit agenda.

On time, every time: Thirdly, a summit is like any other event. What people remember afterwards are often the small things. Flawless execution ensures they focus on what matters.

• Last time, the agenda tried to boil the (Indian) ocean. 

• Next time, let’s pick clear priorities and relegate the rest.

Familiar problems: Ever since the first COP in Berlin in March 1995, we’ve seen the pitfalls now widely associated with such events.

• The result has been that COP is losing prominence. Other events such as New York Climate Week are muscling in. 

• This is Africa’s chance – and yours. 

No secret: We know what the others are getting wrong and the Africa Climate Summit could do much better – for the benefit of the planet… and the continent's prosperity.

Results, results, results: Many climate summits lack tangible outcomes. Commitments remain unmet and agreements are non-binding.

• Many voluntary promises fail to translate into concrete actions.

• Deals often target a distant future and lack enforcement mechanisms.

• Financial support from rich nations can be pitiful or overly complex.

Process & participation: Progress is generally slow and public trust can be low. 

• Secrecy around negotiation details fuels skepticism about motives and effectiveness.

• The high costs of participation can alienate activists and the public.

• Indigenous communities, women and youth must be more than window dressing.

Waste management: Much summitry is performative and undermines the event’s purpose. 

• Greenwashing, tokenism, political posturing and blame games are a waste.

• The environmental impact of the event itself is often noticed by all but the organisers.

Please be advised: It doesn’t have to be this way. 

What’s key: Africa does not lack climate-related events - nor conferences focused on aspects of the continent's green economy. We seem to meet all the time. 

• But what Africa really needs is one tent-pole event that lends momentum to all the others. That is the continent's opportunity. And yours. 

• Chairperson, please feel free to press reply on this email if we can be of further help.