Green Finance

The Second Africa Climate Summit concluded in Addis Ababa with the launch of two major green industrialisation initiatives, highlighting that green investment is a key driver for Africa’s sustainable development. These areas include energy, agriculture, water, transport, and resilience.

REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. It is a global framework that encourages countries to protect forests and, in return, earn carbon credits. These credits can then be sold in international or local markets, bringing in money for conservation and community development.

A recent report by Power Shift Africa and partners warns that carbon markets, if poorly governed, can be a “dangerous distraction” for Africa, allowing polluters in wealthier nations to keep emitting while shifting the climate burden onto vulnerable communities.

In Marereni, Kenya, a marine biodiversity credit program by Seatrees and COBEC is restoring mangroves and livelihoods. Through $3 “biodiversity blocks,” locals plant trees, boost incomes, and rebuild coastal resilience. Despite challenges, the project reports high survival rates and rising fish stocks.

A new report by African climate think tank Power Shift Africa is sounding the alarm: carbon markets—long championed as tools to fight climate change—could actually fuel emissions, deepen global inequality, and leave Africa grappling with long-term environmental and social consequences.

Kenya’s commitment to climate action continues to be put to doubt, with the recent move…