Africa: Can Carbon Markets Help Africa Close Its Climate Finance Gap?

What the report says

AllAfrica reports that Africa is seeking ways to close a major climate finance gap, even though the continent produces less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is among the regions most exposed to climate shocks. The article says droughts, floods and irregular rainfall are already harming livelihoods and economies, while large investment needs remain for clean energy, adaptation and resilient development.

Against that backdrop, the piece examines carbon markets as one possible channel for private investment. It points to mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and voluntary carbon markets, and notes that several countries are already taking steps: Kenya has revised laws to draw in carbon market investment, Ghana is developing a pipeline that includes clean cooking and low-emissions agriculture, and Senegal has authorized electric vehicle transition initiatives.

The interview centers on Jocelyne Landry Tsonang, co-founder of Nature Crest and a Verified Carbon Market Collaborative fellow, who argues that many African projects stall because of weak regulatory systems, limited information, language barriers, technical capacity gaps and country risk perceptions. She says promising ideas often fail to become investable projects because they are not structured for financing, and that communities need a stronger role in how carbon revenues are shared.

The article places these issues in a broader policy context ahead of COP31, where the challenge is not just making climate commitments but turning them into scalable investment. It also highlights the particular concern that Francophone Africa is often left out of carbon-market discussions and needs better access to tools, expertise and financing channels.