ACS23 proves Africa is becoming leader in climate action, says Damilola Ogunbiyi

Damilola Ogunbiyi, special representative of the United Nations (UN) secretary general for Sustainable Energy For All (SEforALL), says the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) has put the continent at the forefront of climate solution conversations.

Ogunbiyi spoke to CNN on Wednesday in Nairobi, Kenya, to mark the conclusion of the three-day summit.

The SEforALL CEO described the summit as a success, saying it pointed Africa in the direction of seeking solutions instead of being a victim of climate change.

“The summit was a great success. For the first time we had almost 19 heads of states in Africa coming together to explain the fact that they want to lead in climate action. I think this is one of the first times,” Ogunbiyi said. 

“We had over 60 ministers saying that ‘we want to grow our economy in the green sustainable way’, so the narrative has changed from Africa being a victim in climate change, which it is.

“But Africa being the leader in climate action, in green manufacturing, and asking for the global audience to come on this charge with Africa and have Africa being a solution provider.”

The UN official noted that many African countries have limited climate budgets stretched thin by debt servicing, and called on richer nations to provide affordable and accessible financing to mitigate the problem.

Ogunbiyi said it is important that richer countries lead the financing because they are the highest polluters and should pay for their actions.

“This isn’t only a climate issue, it’s a development issue and we have to develop in a green, sustainable way,” she said. 

“We do not want to develop like the global north, we do not want to develop on fossil fuels, we want jobs for our young people but we need the whole global architecture to support us in doing this.

“It’s really important that the nations that pollute do pay for it and it’s very paramount that you also need this financing to finance climate friendly solutions.

“So I don’t think anyone should be left off polluting.

“We all have our 1.5 degree target but if you continuously pollute, then the G20 countries should be held to account.”

The inaugural ACS, championed by Kenya President William Ruto, aimed to address the increasing exposure to climate change and its associated costs, globally and particularly in Africa.