The African Circular Business Alliance (ACBA), through its Energy Sustainability Director, participated in the Africa Climate Summit 2, held from 8–10 September 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The summit, convened by Oxford Net Zero (University of Oxford) and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, brought together experts from across Africa to explore pathways toward a prosperous, fossil-fuel-free future for the continent.
A Shared Vision for Africa’s Fossil-Free Future
The event, themed “A Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels,” centred on how African nations can transition to sustainable economies while maintaining growth and social stability.
The dialogue featured contributions from African researchers, sustainability professionals, and civil society organisations, examining short-, medium-, and long-term interventions for economic diversification and resilience beyond fossil fuels.
Discussions highlighted opportunities for countries like Nigeria, Angola, and Kenya to replace fossil fuel revenues with more sustainable income sources such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and digital innovation.
ACBA’s Contribution to the Dialogue
Representing ACBA, Nair de Sousa, the Energy Sustainability Director, shared critical insights on realistic pathways for African nations to phase out fossil fuels while protecting rural livelihoods.
She emphasised the importance of community-level solutions and short-to-medium-term interventions that yield tangible social and economic impact.
According to her:
“Countries that have heavily depended on fossil fuels should begin implementing community development projects that supply rural communities with alternative energy sources such as biogas generated from agricultural waste. Too much focus has been placed on industrial decarbonization, which requires high upfront costs and delivers minimal impact on the sustainability of rural livelihoods. By focusing on achievable, community-driven solutions, we can build a more inclusive transition.”
Her remarks reinforced ACBA’s mission to promote circular solutions that turn waste into opportunity—bridging energy access, environmental conservation, and sustainable development.
Highlights from Other Speakers
The dialogue featured several other influential voices from across the continent, each offering a unique perspective on Africa’s energy transition:
- Tracy Tunge, International Advisor at Energy Systems Catapult (Kenya), highlighted the economic potential of green sectors in Kenya, noting that renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green manufacturing, and transport could collectively generate over Ksh 23 trillion annually by 2030, far surpassing revenues from fossil fuels.
- Dr. Zainab Aliyu, Co-founder of Reimagine Change (Nigeria), pointed out that while Nigeria earns significant income from oil, the benefits rarely reach local communities, leaving behind environmental degradation and poverty. She emphasised the need for economic diversification to reduce overreliance on oil revenues.
- Dr. Jessica Omukuti, Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, stressed that a just transition does not have to happen all at once. She argued for tiered interventions—short, medium, and long-term— that gradually decouple fossil fuels from national development goals while leveraging Africa’s renewable potential.
- Dr. Amiera Sawas, Head of Research and Policy at the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, noted that research across Angola, Tanzania, Senegal, Nigeria, and Kenya has already identified economically viable pathways to move beyond fossil fuel dependency. The next stage, she explained, involves identifying strategies to replace fossil revenues with renewable and sustainable alternatives.
Building a Resilient and Sustainable Energy Future
The summit reaffirmed Africa’s growing consensus that the continent’s future lies in clean, inclusive, and circular energy systems. Participants called for stronger collaboration between governments, private sector leaders, and civil society organisations to mobilise investments and accelerate innovation in renewable energy, waste-to-energy, and digital sustainability.
At ACBA, we view this transition not as a challenge, but as an opportunity to redefine Africa’s development narrative—anchored on circularity, clean technology, and green growth.
Our Commitment to Clean Energy Innovation
Our participation in the Africa Climate Summit reflects ACBA’s growing leadership in driving Africa’s clean energy and circular economy transition. Through transformative initiatives such as TerraFuel (biofuel for heavy transportation), Evoke (clean cooking solutions powered by biogas), GeoStream (geothermal energy and water desalination for sustainable power), EmTrack (AI-driven carbon emissions tracking platform), and Evolve (renewable-powered sustainable mobility network), we are redefining how Africa approaches energy generation, efficiency, and climate responsibility.
By investing in these forward-thinking solutions, we aim to power communities, reduce emissions, and create green economic opportunities—advancing a just, inclusive, and resilient transition away from fossil fuels across the continent.
