At Africa Climate Week, Mrs. Razan Al Mubarak took part in climate talks about the preservation of Africa’s diverse ecosystems — ranging from marine and coastal areas to vast terrestrial landscapes — as the world transitions to renewable energy solutions. Mrs. Al Mubarak said:

“Africa's incredible biodiversity is not just a testament to the continent's natural wealth, but also to the stewardship of its communities. By partnering globally, we can amplify local efforts to protect these vital ecosystems for the benefit of all.”

Taking place from September 4-8 in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa Climate Week is organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, under the patronage of the government of Kenya and its President William Ruto. It is one of four regional weeks held to build momentum ahead of COP28 in the UAE in November.

As both the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 and President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Mrs. Al Mubarak is championing nature-based solutions (NbS) at Africa Climate Week - steps like reversing deforestation, restoring ecosystems, and improving farm management. These initiatives not only have the potential to preserve important habitats but also to support livelihoods and increase communities' resilience to the negative impacts of climate change.

African countries are among the worst-affected by climate change. This is the case even though the African continent has contributed no more than three percent of historical greenhouse emissions. However, the continent is well-endowed with rare earth minerals which are crucial for electric vehicles and other green technologies. As the world seeks to move away from fossil-based energy generation, the importance of such minerals and the pressure of extractive industries will only increase. 

Mrs. Al Mubarak cautioned that the expansion of green technologies must move forward with robust environmental safeguards to prevent the kind of harm previously inflicted on nature by the fossil fuels industry.

Please see our press release here for more of Mrs. Al Mubarak’s engagements at Africa Climate Week.