At a high-level dialogue during the 2025 African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings in Abidjan, experts emphasized the urgent need for African governments to integrate carbon finance into their national development strategies.
The panel underscored that carbon markets should no longer be viewed solely as climate instruments but as central tools for economic resilience and sustainable transformation across the continent.
Moderated by AfDB Vice President Solomon Quaynor, the discussion brought together leaders from key institutions including the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the Development Bank of Southern Africa, ARM-Harith, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and the AfDB itself.
Panelists stressed that embedding carbon finance within national plans is critical to unlocking private investment and ensuring that climate-related revenue supports infrastructure, energy, and social development priorities.
They highlighted the necessity of coordinated action, strong partnerships, and scalable solutions to position Africa as a key player in the global carbon finance landscape. The growing momentum behind Africa’s carbon market agenda reflects a collective recognition that no single institution can address climate challenges alone, underscoring the importance of complementarity and collaboration.
The Africa Carbon Support Facility (ACSF), a flagship initiative of the AfDB, was highlighted as a catalytic platform designed to de-risk carbon market investments, foster policy coherence, and scale Africa’s participation in global carbon markets. The panelists agreed that such innovative instruments are essential to build investor confidence and drive inclusive, climate-smart economic growth.
Acknowledging the human face of climate change, especially in vulnerable regions like Madagascar, Mr. Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, Executive Director of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, noted: “When global emissions are reduced, there is less loss and damage. In Madagascar and elsewhere, disasters give climate change a human face. But there are non-economic losses. Global solidarity is one of the levers; in less than two years, we have launched a fund of $766 million in voluntary contributions. We must promote complementarity; no single institution can do everything.”
The collective message was for Africa to harness the full potential of its carbon markets and secure long-term climate resilience, carbon finance must be fully embedded at the core of national development agendas.
