Kindiki Urges Global Action to Unlock Africa’s Green Energy Potential
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki represents President William Ruto during the Leaders’ Summit ahead of the 30th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP 30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Belém, Brazil
Belém, Brazil, November 9, 2025 — Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has underscored Africa’s central role in driving the world’s transition to green energy, urging global leaders to honour climate finance pledges and reform international systems that marginalize developing countries.
Speaking on behalf of President William Ruto during the Leaders’ Summit ahead of the 30th Session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30), Kindiki said Africa’s vast renewable energy potential, abundance of critical minerals, and dynamic youth population position the continent as a key partner in the global energy transition.
“Africa can help the world in transitioning to green energy because it has the world’s largest untapped renewable energy resources, vast critical minerals essential for energy transition, and a youthful demographic capable of powering the next generation of global manufacturing,” Kindiki stated.
He emphasized that unlocking this potential requires renewed commitment from the international community through increased investment in renewable energy, fulfilment of climate finance promises, and reforms that make global capital more accessible and affordable for developing nations.
“This potential will only be realized if the global financial architecture is reformed, climate financing pledges are honoured, and policies integrate the empowerment of women, youth, and farmers,” he added, stressing that the benefits of the green economy must be shared equitably across all communities and generations.
While in Brazil, Kindiki also represented Kenya in discussions on the Building Climate Resilience with the Urban Poor (BCRUP) Programme, a United Nations initiative co-led by Kenya and Brazil. The programme focuses on strengthening resilience among urban poor populations especially those in informal settlements who are most vulnerable to climate shocks such as floods, drought, and heatwaves.
The initiative further addresses underlying vulnerabilities like poverty, weak governance, and inadequate infrastructure. President Ruto first launched the BCRUP strategy during the 2023 Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi and later unveiled its implementation plan at COP 28 in Dubai.
In meetings with UN agencies, Kindiki urged the integration of BCRUP principles into COP 30’s outcome documents and called for enhanced financing, technology transfer, and capacity-building to advance climate resilience. UN officials commended Kenya’s social housing and Nairobi Rivers Regeneration programmes, hailing them as among the most transformative climate resilience initiatives in the Global South driven by domestic resources.
