Professor Lord Nicholas Stern, one of the world’s leading authorities on climate change economics, will headline Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES) 2027 as the continent steps up efforts to mobilise climate finance, strengthen resilience and accelerate its transition to a sustainable economy ahead of COP32.
The summit, scheduled for February 23–26, 2027, at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, comes at a critical time as Ethiopia prepares to host the 32nd Conference of the Parties (COP32), placing Africa at the centre of global climate negotiations.
Professor Stern, IG Patel Professor of Economics and Government and Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, will deliver the opening keynote address under the theme, “Ready for the World: Financing and Delivering Africa’s Sustainable Future.”
He is widely recognised for leading the landmark Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, which demonstrated the economic costs of failing to address climate change and highlighted the need for investment in a transition towards a low-carbon global economy.
His participation is expected to strengthen discussions on how African countries can turn climate commitments into practical investments, particularly in renewable energy, green industrialisation, climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure.
With COP32 approaching, the continent faces growing pressure to move beyond climate pledges towards implementation by attracting private capital, developing bankable projects and building resilience against the effects of climate change.
Emmanuelle Nicholls, Group Director of Green Economy at VUKA Group, said COP32 offered Africa an opportunity to reposition itself in the global climate investment landscape.
“COP32 is an opportunity for Africa to change the narrative from a continent seeking climate finance to a continent offering some of the world’s most compelling green investment opportunities,” said Nicholls.
She said AGES 2027 would focus on connecting investors with projects, aligning policy with implementation and translating climate ambitions into tangible economic outcomes.
The summit’s newly released programme features “Road to COP32: Africa’s Implementation Agenda” as a cross-cutting theme, with dedicated discussions on climate adaptation, resilience and the continent’s sustainable development priorities.
Climate finance and green investment opportunities
Professor Stern will be joined by African and international policymakers, development finance experts, investors and green economy leaders to examine opportunities for accelerating climate action across the continent.
Confirmed speakers include Mallé Fofana, Deputy Executive Director and Head of the Directorate for Green Growth Implementation at the Global Green Growth Institute; Satu Kahkonen, World Bank Division Director for South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini; and Haile Mekonnen, COP32 Climate Finance Representative for the Ethiopian Private Sector and member of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s COP32 Climate Finance Technical Team.
Other speakers include Aakif Merchant, Director and Head of Africa at Convergence; Dave Chalila, Head of Africa and Middle East Investments at GuarantCo; and Roslyn Ng’eno, Senior Investment Expert at the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.
Discussions will explore how African economies can expand access to clean energy, develop green industries and strengthen food and water security while creating employment opportunities.
Other priority areas include sustainable agriculture, climate and nature finance, critical minerals, sustainable mobility, carbon markets, digital infrastructure and mobilising institutional investment for climate-related projects.
The discussions are expected to highlight the role of development finance institutions, private investors and governments in addressing Africa’s climate financing gap and supporting the transition towards more resilient economies.
Africa seeks to attract climate investment
AGES 2027 is expected to attract more than 700 delegates and 150 investors, with organisers presenting a pipeline of over 40 investment-ready projects valued at approximately US$2 billion.
The summit will provide a platform for African project developers to engage with international investors, development finance institutions and strategic partners seeking opportunities in the continent’s green economy.
New additions to the 2027 programme include a Ministerial and Technical Leadership Roundtable, a closed-door Development Finance Institution (DFI) Roundtable and the Green Village.
The programme will also feature investor roundtables, curated business matchmaking sessions and project presentations aimed at connecting capital with viable climate and infrastructure investments.
Cape Town will return as host city, with organisers positioning the summit as a platform for strengthening Africa’s participation in global green investment and climate finance discussions.
The summit’s infrastructure and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) Dealbooks have also been released, highlighting African projects seeking investment and strategic partnerships.
As Ethiopia prepares to host COP32, AGES 2027 is expected to provide an important platform for shaping Africa’s climate investment priorities and strengthening cooperation between governments, investors and development institutions.
