This culminated in the adoption of the Nairobi declaration , in the presence of other global leaders , intergovernmental organizations, Regional Economic Communities, and United Nations Agencies.
Also present were private sector representatives, civil society organizations, indigenous peoples, local communities, farmer organisations, children, youth, women and academia.
At least 17 heads of state individually participated in the summit held in Nairobi. Others sent representatives.
The commitments made include;
- Developing and implementing policies, regulations and incentives aimed at attracting local, regional and global investment in green growth and inclusive economies.
- Propelling Africa's economic growth and job creation in a manner that not only limits our own emissions but also aids global decarbonization efforts, by leapfrogging traditional industrial development and fostering green production and supply chains on a global scale.
- Focusing economic development plans on climate-positive growth, including expansion of just energy transitions and renewable energy generation for industrial activity, climate-aware and restorative agricultural practices, and essential protection and enhancement of nature and biodiversity.
- Strengthen actions to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, deforestation, and desertification, as well to restore degraded lands to achieve land degradation neutrality.
- Advancing green industrialisation across the Continent by prioritizing energy-intense industries to trigger a virtuous cycle of renewable energy deployment and economic activity, with a special emphasis on adding value to Africa's natural endowments.
- Redoubling efforts to boost agricultural yields through sustainable agricultural practices, to enhance food security while minimizing negative environmental impacts.
- Taking the lead in the development of global standards, metrics, and market mechanisms to accurately value and compensate for the protection of nature, biodiversity, socio-economic co-benefits, and the provision of climate services.
- Finalising and implementing the draft African Union Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, with the view to realizing the 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature.
- Integrate climate, biodiversity and ocean agendas and instruments at national plans and processes to assure their full potential to support sustainable development is realised and support nature-based ocean solutions for climate, livelihoods and sustainability 5 objectives, that support and increase the resilience of local communities, coastal areas and national economies.
- Supporting smallholder farmers, indigenous peoples, and local communities in the green economic transition given their key role in ecosystem stewardship.
- Identify, prioritise and mainstream adaptation into development policy-making and planning, including in the context of national plans and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
- Building effective partnerships between Africa and other regions, to meet the needs for financial, technical and technological support, and knowledge sharing for climate change adaptation.
- Promoting investments in urban infrastructure including through upgrading informal settlements and slum areas to build climate-resilient cities and urban centres.
- Strengthening early warning systems and climate information services, as well as taking early action to protect lives, livelihoods and assets and inform long-term decision-making related to climate change risks. We emphasise the importance of embracing indigenous knowledge and citizen science in both adaptation strategies and early warning systems.
- Accelerating implementation of the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-32).
