The African Union (AU) and the African Capability Constructing Basis (ACBF) have begun making ready African diplomats for what might change into one of many continent’s largest local weather financing alternatives, coaching greater than 80 ambassadors, senior diplomats and coverage specialists to barter a stronger African place within the quickly increasing international carbon market.
The high-level coaching, held on the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, marks a significant step in implementing the Africa Motion Plan on Carbon Markets, adopted by the AU Meeting in 2025 to make sure African international locations derive better financial and environmental advantages from worldwide carbon buying and selling.
The initiative comes as choices reached below Article 6 of the Paris Settlement on the COP29 local weather convention in Baku, Azerbaijan, are anticipated to considerably develop international carbon markets, doubtlessly unlocking billions of {dollars} in local weather finance for growing international locations, together with these in Africa.
In accordance with a press release signed by Fatou Diouf, Head of Communications and Influencing on the African Capability Constructing Basis, the seminar aimed to strengthen the technical and negotiating capability of African diplomats forward of more and more complicated worldwide local weather negotiations.
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Talking through the programme, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Improvement, Blue Economic system and Sustainable Setting, Moses Vilakati, confused that Africa should pursue a coordinated continental technique.
“Our collective method should proceed to be guided by our continental frameworks,” Vilakati mentioned.
He emphasised that robust governance, transparency, free, prior and knowledgeable consent, and legally enforceable benefit-sharing mechanisms are essential to making sure carbon markets generate tangible advantages for African international locations and native communities quite than exterior traders alone.
Contributors explored African-led carbon credit score tasks, examined the variations between compliance and voluntary carbon markets, and studied worldwide regulatory fashions, together with the European Union’s Emissions Buying and selling System, to establish finest practices adaptable throughout the continent.
Discussions additionally centered on safeguarding group rights, making certain environmental integrity and directing carbon revenues in the direction of local weather adaptation, sustainable improvement and native financial progress.
Particular Adviser to the ACBF Govt Secretary and Head of the Basis’s AU Liaison Workplace, Ambassador Laho Bangoura, mentioned Africa should put money into human capability whether it is to maximise rising alternatives in local weather finance.
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“As local weather finance turns into more and more central to Africa’s improvement agenda, capability improvement should stay on the coronary heart of our response,” Bangoura mentioned.
Organisers famous {that a} better-equipped diplomatic corps would allow African international locations to barter extra successfully, communicate with one voice and safe fairer outcomes as international demand for high-quality carbon credit continues to rise.
The coaching acquired assist from the Authorities of Azerbaijan via the Azerbaijan Worldwide Improvement Company (AIDA), reflecting rising worldwide collaboration on local weather motion and sustainable improvement.
Carbon markets enable international locations and firms to purchase and promote carbon credit generated from actions that scale back or take away greenhouse fuel emissions, comparable to forest conservation, renewable vitality tasks and sustainable land administration. Africa possesses huge carbon sequestration potential via its forests, wetlands and renewable vitality assets however at present accounts for under a small fraction of the worldwide carbon market.
Consultants consider that with stronger regulatory frameworks, improved governance and enhanced negotiating capability, African international locations might entice billions of {dollars} yearly in local weather finance whereas advancing environmental safety, job creation and sustainable improvement. The AU’s Motion Plan seeks to make sure that Africa just isn’t merely a provider of carbon credit however a key beneficiary of the rising international carbon economic system.