The African Business Roundtable (ABR) hosted two pivotal sessions at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, under the theme: “Bridge the Gap: Scaling up International Partnerships for Africa’s Clean Development Drive in an Uncertain World.” The events took place on Monday, November 18, and Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the Africa Pavilion, H11, Blue Zone. They featured a stellar lineup of thought leaders, including:
- Francesco Corvaro (Special Envoy of Italy on Climate Change)
- Jochen Flasbarth (Germany’s State Secretary for Economic Cooperation and Development)
- Inara Valiyeva (Azerbaijan’s Innovation Chairperson)
- Balarabe Abbas-Lawal (Nigeria’s Environment Minister)
- Gianpiero Nacci (Director, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)
- Iver Høj Nielsen (Head of P4G, State of Green, Denmark)
- Andrew Minson (Concrete and Sustainable Construction Director, Global Cement and Concrete Association)
The sessions underscored the urgency of collaborative efforts to address Africa’s disproportionate vulnerability to climate change, which threatens up to 118 million extremely poor people on the continent by 2030. They also highlighted the region’s immense potential for clean energy solutions, as Africa hosts 60% of the world’s best solar resources.
Discussions emphasized the critical role of private sector investment in driving sustainability in Africa. Key focus areas included businesses that promote adaptation and mitigation schemes, as well as the emergence of innovative enterprises for clean energy and environmental conservation. Given the limitations of traditional banking instruments, the sessions explored the growing importance of innovative financing mechanisms. To unlock the vast potential of small businesses across African markets, participants stressed the need for more project preparation facilities to transform business concepts into bankable ventures.
Organized by the African Business Roundtable, ABR President Mr. Samuel Dossou-Aworet was represented by HRH Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, the ABR Special Envoy on Traditional Institutions and the Informal Sector. She noted that the ABR has championed sustainability efforts even before the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). HRH Erelu Abiola Dosunmu personally attended the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 and returned twenty years later for the Rio +20 Summit in 2012.
As an organization, the ABR began hosting high-level events at COP16 in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009 and has continued to shape discussions on Africa’s role in global sustainability, including engagements in Sharm El-Sheikh (2022), Dubai (2023), and now Baku (2024).
The focus is on mobilizing both domestic and international resources to accelerate Africa’s development drive. It is a shared responsibility between businesses and governments. While businesses play a pivotal role, African governments must create a conducive policy and regulatory environment to attract international capital flows and enable private enterprises to thrive.
Don’t miss this opportunity to partner with change-makers and shape Africa’s clean energy future through meaningful international collaborations. Let’s drive a sustainable world together!
Contact:
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✉️ info@abrnetwork.org | abrwestafrica@abrnetwork.org
