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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 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 briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that the commitment made at COP 28 to transition away from fossil fuels is currently failing, with production plans exceeding 1.5°C limits. It identifies COP 30 in Belém as a critical juncture for governments to align financial flows, increase the ambition of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and operationalize the Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP).

This report provides a comparative analysis of global electricity tariff-setting methodologies, focusing on the process of determining revenue requirements and conducting Cost of Supply (CoS) studies. It examines various regulatory models—including rate-of-return, incentive-based, performance-based, and market-based pricing—and evaluates their effectiveness in balancing financial sustainability for utilities with affordability for consumers. The document concludes with specific recommendations for South Africa to modernize its tariff structures and revenue determination processes as it transitions toward a wholesale electricity market.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines how the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can be leveraged to combat youth unemployment by promoting greentech and Indigenous environmental practices. It argues that shifting from importing green goods to local manufacturing and trading within Africa can create millions of sustainable jobs, particularly in renewable energy, while integrating traditional knowledge to ensure inclusive development.

This guide from the Climate Policy Initiative describes the use of securitized products—such as asset-backed securities (ABS) and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs)—to mobilize finance for climate and energy transitions by pooling financial assets into tradable securities.

This report presents a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of nature-based infrastructure (NBI) in Mozambique, specifically focusing on the restoration and conservation of mangroves and wetlands in three estuaries to enhance coastal resilience against climate-driven disasters.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines priorities for Africa's adaptation finance under the South African G20 presidency. It highlights a severe funding gap, where Africa requires $187–359 billion annually but faces an 80% shortfall in adaptation investment. The document advocates for a shift from debt-creating loans to grant-based and concessional finance, leveraging G20 working groups and MDB reforms to support National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and locally led adaptation.

This policy note by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines the landscape of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in Africa and provides five strategic recommendations for the 2025 South African G20 Presidency to advance agricultural resilience, financing, and digital transformation across the continent.

This report by FSD Africa, BII, and Copernican Securities examines the potential for securitisation to deepen capital markets in sub-Saharan Africa. It identifies a significant private credit gap and argues that while South Africa has a mature market, other African nations face substantial regulatory, legal, and capacity barriers. The report recommends a holistic approach to regulatory reform, increased technical assistance from MDBs and DFIs, and the adoption of standardised data reporting to attract institutional investors.

This research paper analyzes the resurgence of 'resources-for-security' deals in Africa, driven by the global demand for critical raw materials (CRMs) for green energy and military technology. It contrasts three primary models: Russia's use of private military companies (PMCs) for mining rights, the US's transactional 'peace-brokering' approach to secure supply chains, and China's 'infrastructure-for-resources' strategy via the Belt and Road Initiative. The paper argues that while these deals offer short-term security or development gains, they often reinforce dependency and authoritarianism, mirroring colonial and Cold War extractive patterns.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute (WRI) presents a financial case for climate adaptation, arguing that such investments are highly profitable and synergistic with general development goals. Based on an analysis of 320 projects, WRI finds that adaptation investments can yield significant returns through a 'triple dividend' of avoided losses, induced economic development, and additional social and environmental benefits.

This policy brief argues that South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency provides a strategic opportunity to integrate subnational governments into the global climate and environmental agenda. It highlights the role of municipalities as frontline implementers of climate adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity goals, while identifying systemic financial and capacity barriers that hinder their effectiveness in Africa and the Global South.

This policy brief outlines priorities for South Africa's G20 presidency to mainstream crop insurance as a tool for climate resilience in Africa. It evaluates the evolution of insurance models—from multi-peril to index-based and digital solutions—and recommends that the G20 promote high-quality, inclusive products, holistic risk management, and evidence-based subsidy frameworks to support smallholder farmers.

The China Energy Transition Review 2025 by Ember analyzes China's rapid shift toward clean energy and electrification, detailing how its domestic policies and manufacturing scale are driving down global costs and pushing global fossil fuel demand toward a structural decline.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute explores how development and climate financiers can scale up locally led adaptation (LLA) by leveraging complementarity between different funding models, building on community-led development (CLD) legacies, and integrating private sector capital.

This briefing note by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) examines the 'twin transition'—the simultaneous pursuit of digital and green transformations. It analyzes how digital technologies can both enable climate action and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on the implications for developing countries and the pathways toward a net-zero digital economy by 2050.

This report by RMI examines the potential for Distributed Green Ammonia (DGA) production to reduce Africa's reliance on expensive, volatile, and imported nitrogenous fertilizers. It highlights how modular, small-scale green ammonia facilities can lower costs for smallholder farmers, reduce transportation emissions, and leverage renewable energy to improve food security and agricultural yields across the continent.

This report by Ember analyses Chinese customs data to demonstrate a significant increase in solar panel imports into Africa in the 12 months leading up to June 2025. The analysis suggests a structural trend toward increased solar adoption across the continent, potentially driven by distributed solar, which could significantly expand electricity supply and reduce reliance on imported diesel.

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in accelerating the transfer and adoption of green technologies (greentech) across Africa. It argues that while patents are often prohibitively expensive for local innovators, non-patent IPR—such as utility models, trademarks, and geographical indications—can drive incremental innovation and job creation. The document analyzes the IPR landscapes of Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria, highlighting the gap between high-level regional strategies (like AfCFTA and the AU Green Recovery Action Plan) and the practical, detailed IPR mechanisms needed to scale green businesses.