Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged wealthy nations and multilateral financiers to expedite the release of climate financing pledged to African states, warning that persistent delays are exacerbating the human and economic costs of global warming across the continent.Speaking at the COP30 Leaders’ Summit in Belém, Brazil, Prof Kindiki said Africa remained disproportionately affected by climate-related shocks despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions and holding vast potential to support the transition to renewable energy worldwide.
Kindiki argued that Africa has consistently demonstrated willingness to pursue low-carbon development pathways, but the scale and reliability of finance flows to the continent have not matched the ambition of global agreements. He highlighted that Kenya, which aims to transition its national grid to 100 per cent clean energy by 2030, has so far received only $50million of the $62billion climate finance it estimates is required to deliver its commitments under its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0). “The gap between promise and delivery is stark,” he said. “Every dollar delayed, every bureaucratic hurdle, and every unfulfilled commitment comes at a direct human cost.”
Africa has endured increasingly volatile weather patterns over recent years, including prolonged droughts, destructive flooding and landslides that have disrupted livelihoods, food systems and infrastructure. Kindiki noted that less than 2 per cent of the $3trillion invested globally in renewable energy over the past two decades has reached Africa, leaving an estimated 600mn people on the continent without access to electricity. “Global investment in Africa has been slow and minimal,” he said, arguing that such imbalances undermine global climate targets and stall development progress.
Despite these constraints, Kindiki said Africa is well-positioned to become a central player in the energy transition, pointing to the continent’s vast reserves of solar, wind and geothermal potential, alongside critical minerals essential for battery and renewable technologies. Africa also has a young and expanding workforce that could support manufacturing and green industrialisation if adequate finance and technology transfer are mobilised, he added.
The Deputy President called on COP30 to become the forum that unblocks long-standing financing bottlenecks and activates the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap, including the agreed target of mobilising $1.3trillion annually for developing countries by 2035. He cautioned that successive climate conferences have too often prioritised procedure over delivery. “Lengthy negotiations that delay action are unjust to the millions already suffering the effects of climate disruption,” he said.
Kindiki also emphasised that climate action must be inclusive, urging governments and donors to ensure women, young people, farmers and low-income communities benefit equitably from the transition. Addressing the nearly one billion Africans lacking access to clean cooking solutions, he said, should be seen as both a climate and public health priority.
“An effective global response depends on fairness,” he concluded. “Africa is ready to play its part — but commitments must now translate into action.”
