AGESI Unveils 40-Year Environmental Blueprint at AMCEN-20, Urges Bold Shift in Africa’s Sustainability Agenda
Nairobi, Kenya – August 2025 — As the 20th session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-20) unfolds, the Africa Green Economy and Sustainability Institute (AGESI) has released a landmark blueprint charting a bold new course for Africa’s environmental leadership over the next 40 years.
The blueprint, formally presented to ministers and delegates during the high-level session on Thursday, calls for a transformative shift from external dependency to economic sovereignty, homegrown innovation, and unified action across the continent.
“The models of the past have failed to shield us from compounding environmental crises—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Africa must now reclaim its future with decisive, collective leadership,” AGESI declared in its statement to AMCEN ministers.
A Call for a New Continental Compact
AGESI urged ministers not only to reflect on the continent’s environmental progress over the past four decades but to use this historic moment to forge a unified and actionable blueprint for the next. Central to AGESI’s proposal is the creation of Coalitions of Implementation—cross-sectoral mechanisms that move beyond resolutions and ensure measurable results on the ground.
Rather than continually petitioning for fragmented aid from the international community, AGESI encouraged African leaders to consolidate their efforts into a coherent continental strategy for negotiations at key global platforms such as COP30 and UNEA-7.
Structuring Africa’s Green Future
AGESI’s submission to AMCEN proposes the formation of national green growth coalitions—multi-stakeholder task forces uniting environment, finance, trade, and development ministries. These coalitions would accelerate the domestic implementation of vital agreements, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as anticipated international protocols on drought resilience and plastic pollution.
AGESI also advocated for the development of a “Green AfCFTA”—a vision for leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area to create a unified internal market for clean technologies, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable innovations. By removing tariffs and trade barriers in this green economy, African nations can ensure that economic growth and value creation remain within the continent.
A New Era in Climate Finance
On climate finance, AGESI emphasized that fragmented, donor-led approaches are no longer viable. The institute called for the establishment of a pan-African financing position that demands direct, unconditional access to global climate funds. Simultaneously, it urged countries to pioneer self-financing tools such as green bonds, carbon markets, and other innovative domestic instruments.
Empowering Africa’s Human Capital
Highlighting the continent’s demographic advantage, AGESI proposed launching ‘Capacity Unleashed’—a new generation of national programs dedicated to nurturing African climate negotiators, scientists, and green-tech entrepreneurs. These initiatives would secure Africa’s long-term leadership in sustainability through investment in its most valuable asset: its people.
“We are not external advisors—we are implementation partners,” said the institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Eugene Itua. “With our continental office now active in Nigeria, AGESI stands ready to support governments in turning declarations into funded, actionable programs that transform lives.”
Standing with Africa for the Next 40 Years
AGESI’s 40-year vision represents a paradigm shift—from policy dialogue to on-the-ground delivery. The institute reaffirmed its commitment to helping African governments align environmental ambitions with national development goals, ensuring sustainability is not only a principle but a pathway to shared prosperity.
About AGESI
The Africa Green Economy and Sustainability Institute (AGESI) is dedicated to advancing sustainable development across Africa through research, innovation, and strategic partnerships. AGESI operates as a policy catalyst and implementation partner, committed to building a green, inclusive, and prosperous future for the continent.
