Renewables
Africa targets carbon market delivery at Kigali summit
Delegates at the Carbon Markets Africa Summit in Kigali emphasized the need to move from potential to high-integrity execution.
Key points
- Representatives from 45 countries gathered in Kigali for the Carbon Markets Africa Summit 2026.
- Ministers called for high-integrity projects and broader diversification into renewable energy and agriculture.
- Development finance institutions stressed the importance of patient capital and risk-sharing to unlock investments.
Delegates gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, for the Carbon Markets Africa Summit 2026 to focus on scaling the continent's participation in global carbon markets through execution and high-integrity projects. Representatives from 45 countries, including 21 African nations, attended the opening sessions.
Opening the summit, Rwanda's Minister of Environment, Hon. Dr Bernadette Arakwiye, stated that African carbon markets must prioritize local benefits and attract long-term capital. According to ESI Africa, she noted that while countries are establishing frameworks and signing bilateral agreements, finance remains concentrated in a narrow range of projects, calling for expansion into renewable energy, electric mobility, and sustainable waste management.
Shifting to execution
Tanzania's Minister of State for Union Affairs and Environment, Hon. Hamad Yusuf Masauni, emphasized that the continent is moving away from discussions of mere potential. He stressed the necessity of advancing bankable projects through to issuance and offtake.
Speakers highlighted that Africa's competitive advantage should rely on the credibility and integrity of its carbon assets rather than offering the lowest-priced credits. Perumal Arumugam from UN Climate Change noted that success must be measured by investment mobilised and value reaching local communities.
Accessing capital
The summit's discussions also addressed barriers preventing investment from reaching African projects. Leaders from the African Development Bank, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, and the Kigali International Financial Centre examined how policy certainty and risk-sharing can accelerate capital flows.
Dr Anthony Nyong of the African Development Bank remarked that carbon initiatives should be viewed primarily as development projects. Development finance institutions were urged to provide early-stage preparation finance and patient capital to support the market's growth.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
27.8% of electricity in the world was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
