Africa’s Climate Crossroads: The Opportunity to Build a Near-Zero Carbon Powerhouse

Africa’s climate paradox is well understood: a continent that emits less than 4% of global carbon yet bears the brunt of climate disasters. Rising seas encroach on coastal cities, extreme droughts disrupt food systems, and floods displace entire communities. Yet, amid this narrative of vulnerability lies an untapped truth: Africa has the opportunity to lead the world in shaping a new economic model—one that is not built on fossil fuels but on abundant, renewable resources.

In global industrial history, the path to economic dominance has been paved with carbon. Coal fuelled the rise of 19th-century Britain, oil sustained 20th-century America, and coal-powered China’s rapid ascent in the 21st. This cycle of industrialisation has always come at a steep environmental cost. But that path is no longer viable. The planet cannot sustain a new wave of carbon-heavy growth.

African nations, facing the dual pressures of economic expansion and global climate imperatives, must resist the temptation of quick fixes that lock economies into fossil fuel dependency. Instead, they must leapfrog carbon-based models entirely. The stakes are high. Sub-Saharan Africa’s urban population is set to double by 2050, making decisions around energy, mobility, and infrastructure critical to shaping the continent’s trajectory for the next century.

There is no shortage of opportunity. Africa possesses 60% of the world’s best solar resources, yet it contributes less than 1% of global solar output. The continent could be an energy giant—not one built on oil rigs but on solar farms and decentralised mini-grids. Similarly, its cities can set a precedent for clean mobility. In Lagos, Nairobi, and Kigali, two-wheelers form the backbone of daily transport. They are affordable and essential for livelihoods—but they are also among the most polluting vehicles on the road.

Spiro’s experience in electrifying this space shows what is possible. By deploying more than 22,000 electric motorbikes and creating a network of battery-swapping stations, we have demonstrated that economic mobility and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive. Riders no longer have to choose between affordability and sustainability. And the impact is tangible. In a world where transport is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions, the collective effort of thousands of riders swapping petrol for electric motors is significant.

But sustainable mobility is just one piece of a larger puzzle. As Africa’s manufacturing sector expands, it too must avoid replicating carbon-intensive systems. There is an opportunity to create industrial hubs powered by renewables, to build factories where assembly lines run on solar energy rather than diesel generators. Our work assembling electric bikes in East Africa is a small but deliberate step in this direction. By producing closer to where the demand exists, we can create jobs, reduce supply chain emissions, and strengthen local economies.

None of this will happen in isolation. Governments must put in place policies that incentivise investment in clean infrastructure and disincentivise fossil fuel use. Kigali’s decision to mandate electric motorbike taxis by 2025 has shown how policy can catalyse private-sector innovation. International partners must also move beyond outdated development models that push fossil fuel financing into emerging economies.

The story of Africa’s future is still being written. If the right investments are made, Africa could become the world’s first near-zero-carbon economic powerhouse—a continent that powers its industries with solar farms instead of oil refineries, where cities move with electric motors instead of petrol engines.

This isn’t just an aspiration. It’s a necessity. The choices being made now will shape the next century—not just for Africa, but for the world. There is no inevitability that the path forward must mirror the past. Africa can chart its own course and in doing so, redefine what it means to grow.

The real question is whether we can summon the will and the vision to make it happen.