President William Ruto has urged African States to capitalise on shifting global climate investments and position the continent as the leading destination for green industrialisation.
The President was speaking on Friday 13th 2026 in Addis Ababa when he chaired a meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change on the sidelines of the 39th African Union Summit.
Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ruto noted Africa’s vast renewable energy resources give it a competitive edge in climate adaptation and clean energy ventures.
He noted that global energy-transition investment hit a record $2.3 trillion (Sh299 trillion) in 2025, underscoring the steady shift towards low-carbon systems and technologies.
“The global economy is moving toward lower-carbon production, electrified value chains and technology-intensive industry. In this context, reliable and affordable power is becoming a core driver of competitiveness,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by Samia Suluhu Hassan, Vice-Presidents from Uganda and Seychelles, the Prime Minister of Algeria, ministers, representatives of the African Union Commission and development partners.
The head of state further said, green industrialisation offers a strategic pathway to strengthen African economies while creating sustainable jobs for the continent’s youthful population.
He cited the Nairobi Declaration adopted at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in 2023 as setting a clear course for climate-positive growth.
“Our climate agenda is inseparable from development, energy access and industrialisation,” he said.
The President emphasised that Africa must place climate priorities at the heart of economic planning and investment decisions.
He commended the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa and the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative, backed by the African Continental Free Trade Area, as practical frameworks to drive the continent’s climate ambitions.
“Notably, the Green Industrialisation Initiative secured commitments of $100 billion (Sh13 trillion) from African financial institutions at the second Africa Climate Summit,” Ruto added.
President Suluhu also said Tanzania fully supports continental climate action and is pursuing opportunities in green industrialisation, particularly in value addition.
She stressed that the success of Africa’s climate agenda will depend on collective effort by member states and tangible benefits for citizens.
African Union Commission Chair Mahamoud Ali Youssouf assured the committee that climate action remains a top priority, saying robust measures are in place to advance the continent’s climate goals.
He urged member states to back initiatives aimed at reversing the effects of climate change.
Edited by John Majau
