African leaders, policymakers, legal experts, scientists and practitioners have called for African-led solutions to climate change, as its impacts intensify across the continent and disproportionately affect frontline communities.
The call came at a high-level sensitisation conference on the obligations of States in respect of climate change, held in Nairobi from April 21 to 23, 2026. The conference was convened by the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), in partnership with the Government of Kenya, Queen Mary University of London, Kabarak University and the Technical University of Kenya.
The meeting brought together senior government officials from East Africa and the Horn of Africa, alongside representatives from the East African Community, African Union Commission, the United Nations and its agencies, as well as international legal experts, judicial officers and civil society organisations.
The conference was informed by the Advisory Opinion issued on July 23, 2025, by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which affirms that States have binding legal obligations to protect the climate system and may face consequences for climate-related harm.
“Climate change is not only an environmental issue or a legal issue. It is fundamentally a human and development issue. Addressing it requires science, law and policy to work together, so that we can move from principle to action and deliver real solutions for communities,” said Dr Éliane Ubalijoro, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF).
Building on this landmark ruling, leaders called for urgent action to turn legal momentum into practical, African-led solutions for frontline communities. They emphasised that the ruling positions Africa not as a victim, but as a leader driving solutions and demanding accountability.
“The ICJ Advisory Opinion changes the rules of the game. Climate commitments are no longer political choices. They are legal obligations, and states will be held accountable. This means accelerating implementation, strengthening enforcement, and ensuring that climate action is fully integrated into our development and economic decisions,” said Dr Korir Sing’Oei, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs in Kenya.
Africa contributes less than 4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to analyses from institutions such as the African Development Bank and other international datasets. Yet, the continent faces some of the most severe climate impacts. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes that Africa is among the lowest contributors to global emissions while already experiencing widespread losses and damage across key sectors.
“The ICJ advisory opinion is a game changer. It affirms that states are bound by international law and can be held accountable, even beyond specific agreements. The challenge now is no longer about commitments. It is about implementation, and ensuring countries have the financing needed to deliver on their climate goals,” said Dr George Wamukoya, the Team Leader of the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES), a think tank providing technical support to African governments and the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) in climate change policy formulation and decision-making.
He further emphasised that the advisory opinion strengthens the basis for climate accountability. “Countries that fail to meet their obligations can now face real legal consequences under international law.”
Climate-related hazards, including rising temperatures and recurrent droughts, continue to drive food insecurity, while intense rainfall is triggering floods in parts Africa, displacing communities and damaging critical infrastructure. Without urgent action, these impacts will continue to reverse development gains, constrain economic growth and place increasing pressure on food systems, water resources and livelihoods.
Against this backdrop, participants highlighted that the ICJ Advisory Opinion can reinforce legal and policy frameworks for climate action, support accountability where obligations are not met, strengthen Africa’s voice in global climate negotiations, and help unlock fair and adequate climate finance aligned with justice principles.
They underscored that the real test now lies in implementation, noting that while the Advisory Opinion provides important legal leverage, its true value depends on how effectively it is translated into concrete policies, targeted investments and sustained action that deliver meaningful benefits for communities across the continent.
“The advisory opinion makes it clear that climate commitments are no longer optional. They are legal obligations. It gives developing countries stronger leverage to demand accountability and to push for the support and financing needed to meet their climate goals,” said Dr Philip Osano, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for CIFOR-ICRAF.
This urgency is further underscored by the persistent gap between climate needs and available financing. At recent global climate negotiations, including COP28, countries agreed to operationalise a Loss and Damage Fund as a step towards addressing climate harm. However, current pledges, estimated at under $1 billion, fall far short of actual needs, which are projected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars annually for developing countries. African leaders therefore continue to call for scaled-up, predictable and accessible financing, including fair compensation for irreversible losses linked to climate change.
Despite these challenges, Africa is not standing still. Across the continent, countries and communities are advancing practical and scalable solutions. These include large-scale restoration and regreening initiatives such as the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100), to climate-smart agriculture and agroforestry that strengthen food security and resilience.
Investments in renewable energy continue to expand, alongside community-led adaptation strategies rooted in indigenous knowledge and local innovation. These efforts demonstrate that Africa is not waiting for solutions. It is already building them.