Africa must strive to win green transition investment

African analysts have called for intensified efforts to attract investment for green transition, warning that the continent continues to receive only a fraction of the climate finance it requires.

Harsen Nyambe, director for sustainable environment and blue economy at the African Union Commission, said the continent's exposure to climate impacts makes resilience investment a global economic concern.

He added that Africa's development future is firmly tied to a green transition, stressing that the continent must position itself competitively in the global investment landscape. "We know the future of Africa is green — there is no doubt about that," he said. "What is needed is for us to make sure we create conducive environments to attract investors and to be able to compete with the rest of the world."

He noted that Africa's endowment of critical minerals places it at the center of the global shift toward electric mobility and low-carbon development. "Africa is one of those continents which is actually endowed with critical minerals. We therefore hold the future to e-mobility and to low-carbon development. That is the future we need," he said, adding that the continent's sustainability pathway must generate tangible economic benefits.

Carl Roothman, chief executive officer of Sanlam Investment Group, said attracting climate capital will require sustained effort as Africa competes with other emerging markets. "We have to work incredibly hard for these investments. We are competing with Asia and Eastern Europe," he said. However, he noted that if capital is effectively channelled and implementation matches ambition, Africa has the potential to move ahead rapidly, given its resource base.

Roothman urged policymakers and regulators to prioritize simplicity and clarity in investment frameworks. While Africa often views itself as a single continental opportunity, he said investors assess markets individually and respond to regulatory certainty. "To policymakers and regulators, I say — make it as simple as possible. Go for the investment," he said.

He added that the broader challenge lies in coordination and scale. "The task is how we organize ourselves to build projects at scale and attract hundreds of billions of dollars into Africa, rather than seeing that capital flow to Asia or Europe," he said.

Barbara Buchner, global managing director of the independent non-profit Climate Policy Initiative, noted that progress in African climate finance remains uneven. "Finance is still not reaching the regions and sectors that need it most," she said. "An objective view of where global climate finance is heading and how it aligns with broader development goals is essential for unlocking investment at scale."

sharon@chinadailyafrica.com