President William Ruto’s championing of climate change initiatives in the continent has paid off as Kenya will now play host to the first Climate Change Global Business Summit in Africa.
The event which will take place from March 19 to March 20 at Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi will see 200 global Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) jet into the country.
According to the event organisers, the European House – Ambrosetti, the summit follows President William Ruto’s hosting of another event of its kind, the Africa Climate Summit, on September 2023.
“The event will be an annual action-oriented international business platform built for Africa and based in Africa,” the European House – Ambrosetti revealed.
“It will bring together 200 CEOs, economists, and influential personalities to raise global attention to the contribution that the private sector can provide in addressing the most pressing challenges caused by climate change in Africa.”
The European House - Ambrossetti Africa Chief Executive Officer Pietro Mininni explained that the Summit would act as a precursor for annual climate change debates which will focus on the private sector.
He explained that the Summit was bringing a unique community where influential global leaders could discuss long-term international climate-related partnerships.
On how the tycoons will help Kenya and the continent in general, he explained, “It will create a positive and concrete outcome for the African continent in addressing climate change issues.”
In a testament to how President William Ruto had put Kenya on the global map in terms of climate change initiatives, Mininni explained that Nairobi had been chosen to play host due to the country being at the forefront in driving the agenda on climate change in the African Continent and internationally.
Mirroring Ruto’s sentiments, the CEO observed that Africa was more disrupted by the impacts of climate change than any other continent.
The 200 CEOs will discuss climate finance, clean operations for climate protection as well as agro-industry and energy transition.
Other key topics to be discussed include; communicating climate change in Africa for Africa and the role of healthcare.
Some of the global leaders who have confirmed attendance include; Michal Mlynár (UN Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN-Habitat), Wamkele Mene (Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Area), and Sidi Ould Tah (President, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa).
