£49 million of new UK-backed projects will be announced at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit hosted by Kenya from 4 to 6 September 2023.
United Kingdom Minister for International Development, Andrew Mitchell
The projects will focus on raising finance for climate action and helping people manage the impact of climate change across the continent – two key areas in Africa’s fight against climate change. The funding will help create jobs, grow economies and improve the lives of women, farmers and at-risk communities.
It complements UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverley’s promise of honest credible investment in Africa when he visited Kenya in December 2022 with COP26 commitments, demonstrating the strength and potential of the UK-Africa partnership.
This includes £34 million for new projects in 15 African countries to help women, at-risk communities and more than 400,000 farmers build resilience against the impacts of climate change under the established CLARE, CIWA and WISER programmes. Early warning systems, such as text alerts, radio and social networks, will help vulnerable communities take action before extreme climate events occur, and these projects will also improve water security for more than 1.5 million people.
Seven new climate finance projects will also be launched at the summit. The £15 million investment from UK-backed FSD Africa Investments will raise capital from private sources, allowing small-scale businesses to access finance, create innovative products and provide inclusive technology solutions such as turning deserts into farmland. Together, these projects will improve access to renewable energy and basic services including health care for more than 500,000 people, create 3,400 jobs and provide homes with affordable and reliable electricity.
UK Secretary for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, said: “Our partnership with African countries on green investment and climate resilience is driving growing economies and improving lives. But more action is needed, because those least responsible for climate change are increasingly bearing the brunt of its effects.
“The UK is working closely with African partners to fight climate change, build resilience and help those whose lives are most affected.”
While in Nairobi, ministers will reaffirm the UK’s commitment to providing £11.6 billion of international climate finance over five years and call for rapid reform of the international financial system to invest trillions of dollars to tackle climate change.
He will also welcome the launch of Wezza Power, a new partnership between the Government of Burundi and UK-backed company Virunga Power, to expand energy access to around 70% of Burundi’s population.
In addition, he will visit Nairobi Railway City, a regeneration of the city center designed by British architects with the latest green technology and an investment of KES 11.5 billion UK. It is one of six climate investment projects fast-tracked by President Ruto and Prime Minister Sunak at COP27. Since the meeting, construction has begun, and ground has been cleared for the second project.
Minister Michel will also announce the details of the COP28 UAE Presidency and the third consecutive Climate and Development Ministerial hosted by the UK, which will be co-chaired by Malawi and Vanuatu, ahead of COP28. The ministerial program was first launched by the UK ahead of COP26 to generate concrete results for climate finance access and loss and damage.
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Source: www.bing.com
