All Articles

Africa is rich in natural resources, yet it continues to face serious challenges in renewable energy. Despite its vast renewable energy potential, the continent struggles to generate enough power to meet its population's needs. Meanwhile, critical minerals like lithium are being extracted from countries like Zimbabwe and exported to fuel the green energy revolution in the developed world, leaving many Africans wondering who is really benefiting from their resources.

The role that venture capital will play in developing early-stage clean energy technologies is likely to mirror its scale in developing AI, internet companies, and social media platforms. While many of the hallmarks of VC remain the same, including long-shot bets, radical new technologies, and high potential returns, many of the challenges are new.

South Africa’s biggest C02-emmiting firms are caught in a PR bind. They are accused of working to ‘delay, dilute or derail’ Net-Zero goals in Africa’s wealthiest economy. When confronted, they struggle with vague denials. In May, a report titled ‘The Obstruction Playbook’ reveals the sophisticated, yet subtle tactics some of South Africa’s biggest corporates deploy to frustrate the climate pledges made by the Just Energy Transition Plan committed to by South Africa in 2021.

COP30 has two weeks for parties to discuss and deliver on adaptation. As the IPCC notes, climate change is progressing more rapidly than we can adapt. With the summit starting next Monday in Brazil, it is worth recalling that the GGA framework was initially proposed by Latin America, specifically by Argentina, and later adopted by the Parties at COP28.

Access to clean, renewable energy remains one of Africa’s biggest challenges, amid reports that up to 600 million people still lack access to reliable electricity. Yet, Africa has significant potential for renewable energy that can help the continent transition from unclean energy sources like biomass to renewable energy. This transition could shape Africa’s future development, regional stability, and progress amid climate change.

A new carbon-credit scheme in the southern arc of Africa wants to work ethically where others have been beset with accusations of land colonialism, corrupt deals, and ‘green washing’.

With innovative financing for clean energy like the Ilute solar project, the future looks bright for the expansion of solar energy in Zambia. However, it remains to be seen whether such a financing structure will be replicated in other African countries. Only time will tell.

The security required for trillions of dollars of investment requires insurance backing, making climate insurance the basis for much of climate financing. If the world of climate financing is built on the back of the insurance industry, it is essential to understand its role.

Finding ways to incorporate retail investors into climatetech and renewable project financing will simultaneously diversify economic benefits, open a significantly larger pool of capital, and create far more stakeholders in the transition to clean energy.

Ultimately, a push to pause all foreign development in pursuit of an “America First” policy is likely to place America last in the race to source clean energy.

By utilizing computing power to track supply chain and product emissions, companies will gain a better understanding of total emissions, where these emissions originate, and what policies can be implemented to reduce them.

Investment firms continue to show a rising interest in impact, creating an opportunity for capital to contribute to the transition to...