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This research paper evaluates South Africa's G20 presidency, noting its partial success in raising global awareness of Africa's challenges in accessing affordable development finance while highlighting a lack of consensus on reforming the G20's Common Framework for debt restructuring and the governance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

This research paper examines Nigeria's natural gas sector and its potential to drive sustainable industrialization across Africa. It analyzes the 'Decade of Gas' (2021-2030) initiative, critical infrastructure projects, and the regulatory reforms needed to transition from a reliance on oil exports to a gas-powered economy that supports regional energy security and manufacturing.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that democracy in Africa often exists as a procedural ritual that masks enduring colonial socio-economic structures and elite control. Using foresight methods and a case study of the South African National Dialogue, the document proposes a shift toward 'transformative solidarity economics' and structural reforms in education, governance, and constitutional frameworks to move from procedural survival to substantive democratic resilience.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) issued a statement welcoming the G20 South Africa Summit: Leaders’ Declaration, while noting that the consensus-based nature of the outcome diluted transformative proposals and failed to deliver sufficient progress on climate and development challenges.

This report examines the potential for Direct Air Capture (DAC) and other carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies in Africa, with a particular focus on Kenya and the East African Rift region. It highlights the region's competitive advantages in geothermal energy and basaltic rock formations for permanent carbon storage, while outlining the technological, financial, and regulatory innovations needed to scale these systems.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) analyzes the potential for the EU-AU summit in Luanda to reinvigorate the partnership between Europe and Africa as a driver for multilateral reform, specifically regarding global peace, security, and governance.

This research paper analyzes South Africa's G20 presidency, focusing on its efforts to advance African priorities and the broader Global South development agenda amidst a challenging geopolitical climate. The author evaluates four primary priorities—debt sustainability, climate and energy transitions, disaster resilience, and critical minerals—concluding that while the presidency has successfully raised global awareness and shaped the narrative for African development, the ambitious goals are unlikely to be fully realized in practice due to a lack of international consensus.

This research paper examines the intersection of international trade regulations and Africa's ambitions for green technology and industrialisation. It specifically analyzes the potential impacts of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and US tariffs, arguing that while these measures could theoretically drive demand for renewables, they are more likely to create fiscal constraints and hinder the continent's ability to invest in green R&D. The author advocates for a coordinated African response through the UNFCCC, the WTO, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to secure technology transfer and affordable finance.

This briefing outlines the economic case for investing in natural capital, demonstrating that nature-based solutions in forests, wetlands, and food systems provide returns ranging from 6.8 to 51 times the investment. It highlights that such investments could provide over 50% of the cost-effective mitigation needed for a 2°C pathway and significantly reduce climate-related losses in developing countries, despite current financial flows remaining misaligned and skewed toward harmful environmental subsidies.

This policy brief from the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) examines the intersection of energy poverty and green industrialization in Africa. It argues that while the continent faces severe electricity deficits and fossil fuel dependence, its abundant renewable resources provide a strategic opportunity to leapfrog to cleaner energy systems to drive job creation and productivity, provided that institutional, regulatory, and financing barriers are addressed.

The document introduces a Just Energy Transition (JET) framework developed by Natural Justice specifically for African communities to ensure they are equal partners in energy system changes and benefit from the resulting social and economic developments.

This research paper argues that South Africa should continue to prioritise the financial and debt challenges facing Africa following the conclusion of its 2025 G20 presidency. The author highlights a 'vicious cycle' where debt obligations and climate impacts undermine sustainable development goals, and proposes three specific actions—a technical report on finance barriers, the creation of an African Borrower's Club, and a review of IMF operating principles—to address these systemic issues.

This report by Ember examines the growth of solar energy in Brazil, China, and India over the decade following the Paris Agreement. It details how the transition of solar leadership from advanced economies to emerging markets was driven by national policies, international financial mechanisms, and industrial scaling, resulting in solar becoming the fastest-growing electricity source globally.

This report by Ember examines the global expansion of solar power in the decade following the 2015 Paris Agreement, focusing on the leadership of emerging economies, specifically Brazil, China, and India. It details how national targets, international finance, and industrial policies accelerated solar adoption, shifting the center of solar generation from OECD nations to emerging markets.

This report by RMI examines the decarbonization of the cement and concrete sector, which contributes nearly 8 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. It outlines a strategic framework for innovation categorized as "Make Less," "Make Better," and "Make New," while highlighting the funding gap and the necessity of updating prescriptive industry standards to performance-based specifications to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon materials.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics, written with Africa Climate Insights, examines the critical shortfall in climate adaptation finance for Africa and developing nations. It argues that public finance must remain the primary driver of adaptation due to the 'less bankable' nature of adaptation projects compared to mitigation and the high debt distress in African economies.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) issued a statement calling for the G20, hosted for the first time by South Africa, to implement people-centred reforms to the global economic architecture. The IEJ advocates for urgent action on debt justice, tax fairness, food security, the care economy, and climate finance to address systemic inequalities affecting Africa.

This policy brief argues that Africa can drive economic transformation and a just transition by leveraging its critical minerals (such as cobalt in the DRC) and renewable energy potential through the development of innovation ecosystems. It highlights existing momentum in tech hubs and universities in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Morocco as a foundation for developing green technologies for local and global markets.

This policy brief from the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) argues for the strategic use of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to accelerate green industrialization in Africa, specifically through energy data exchange to optimize renewable energy distribution.

This policy brief by the African Future Policies Hub analyzes the implications of the July 2025 International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change. The document argues that the ruling provides a legal and moral foundation to demand scaled-up climate finance, emphasizing the principles of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) and the necessity of reparations. It specifically links the ruling to the Baku to Belém (B2B) Roadmap and the financing of the third generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) leading up to COP30.