One definition of a promising startup founder, especially in impact ventures, is someone who wants to solve a big problem. 

• Well, in Africa they don’t come any bigger than the one shown in the chart above.  

It’s everywhere: Anti-heat solutions cut across sectors, driven by innovation and a (so far modest) influx of capital. 

• Most solutions tackle one facet of rising temperatures, and there are many.

The problems: Africa’s temperature is rising faster than in many other continents.

• It has increased more than 1°C since 1900.

• Projections suggest a double increase at the century’s end.

• Africa’s warming trend is notably higher than the global average. 

Why warming: The root cause obviously lies in developed countries but Africa is no bystander.

• It has the same number of cars as Britain and triple its power generation. 

• Deforestation and industrial farming also contribute to rising temperatures.

Impact, plural: We don’t yet know the extent of the impact but here is a sample.

• Humans face more vector-borne diseases, greater food insecurity, increased migration pressure and just sheer discomfort.

• Flora and fauna see habitats degraded, threats from invasive species, dwindling water resources and loss in reproductive capacity.

Tunnel light: A focus on cooling solutions is attractive for African entrepreneurs and investors given the “total addressable market”. 

• Many solutions have the potential to scale to vast numbers of consumers.

• Life in Africa is already so precarious that heat quickly causes existential needs. 

Refrigeration: Given local power poverty, non-African solutions struggle here, leaving space in the market for companies such as Koolboks.

• It offers solar-powered fridges and freezers for residential and commercial users. 

• To be affordable, it has weekly pay-as-you-go financing in 28 African countries. 

• IoT technology enables real-time monitoring of temperature, humidity and power use.

Construction: The building trade is facing a revolution in many parts of Africa.

• Light-coloured concrete is explored to mitigate the urban heat island effect in cities such as Johannesburg and Pretoria.

• In Burkina Faso, builders are reviving the use of mud, particularly adobe and rammed earth, given their cooling effect.

Healthcare: Hospitals and clinics too are using new techniques and products.

• South Africa has issued protocols to mitigate heat-related illnesses. 

• In DR Congo, new refrigeration methods have boosted child vaccinations. 

Insurance: Since warming can no longer be avoided, products insuring against its most extreme effects have come to the fore. 

• Djibouti has signed a multi-year, multi-peril insurance deal to provide rapid payouts in case of climate-related disasters.

Systemic approach: African countries are starting to think of heat mitigation and adaptation as a national project, drawing in stakeholders across the economy. 

• Kenya is creating a comprehensive National Cooling Action Plan (NCAP) that includes boosting the efficiency of cooling appliances.

Open door: On a problem-rich continent, entrepreneurs face an embarrassment of opportunities. 

• Engineers creating Kigali’s new Green City district are integrating natural cooling systems in building designs.

Government needed: All of this could be so much easier with the right incentives. 

• Why give preferential tax treatment to electric vehicles but not energy-efficient cooling appliances? 

2. Cheat sheet: Four simple products to cool homes naturally

(i) Crack sealant: Heat-resistant caulk can close off gaps in walls that let in hot air. 

(ii) Blackout curtains: Thermal-lined cloth provides an insulating layer on windows.