Africa is bursting with possibilities and a vast endowment of natural resources. The continent’s renewable energy potential is 50 times greater than the anticipated global electricity demand for the year 2040. The continent also has over 40% of the global reserves of key minerals for batteries and hydrogen technologies. Africa, also, has the largest tracts of arable land, and the continent is young, with 70% of the people under 30 years of age. It is time to tap these riches to achieve the aspirations of the people.

Opportunity beckons for Africa to make this century, the African Century, in which the continent’s economies leapfrog by harnessing the vast endowment of clean energy resources. We are ready to leap into a future powered by Africa and demonstrate that the continent can industrialize in a low carbon and sustainable manner.

Realizing the continent’s potential requires bold new approaches matched by the magnitude of the existential challenges posed by climate change which affects the continent disproportionately. The bold actions must be coupled with a strong sense of urgency, and avoid pitfalls and traps of maldevelopment pathways which in the past, have held back the continent. Replicating mistakes of the past and expecting new results, is not an option.

Such a vision is laid out in this seminal report from African experts on issues of climate, energy, and development. It looks at the intersection of the crises Africa is facing, explains how we got here, and outlines a way forward. It explains the development traps we must avoid and highlights the core pillars of a new way forward focused on achieving food sovereignty, 100% renewable energy sovereignty, and an afro-centric industrial policy that increases African collaboration and resource control. The report also goes beyond a vision, to outline ways to power the transition, and provide financing approaches that could make the new vision a reality.

Africa has demonstrated that climate change, energy access, poverty, development, and conflict are all tightly connected and are different dimensions of the same phenomenon. I believe by becoming more assertive and pursuing a climate and development agenda through unified approaches of the kind outlined in this report, Africa will be able to mitigate the climate emergency and propel itself to prosperity.