Despite contributing only a small share of global emissions, Africa faces the dual challenge of decarbonizing its industries while building new industrial capacity. The continent is richly endowed with renewable energy resources and critical minerals that are indispensable for global clean energy transitions. Harnessing these opportunities requires more than resource extraction; it demands investment in innovation ecosystems that link startups, research hubs, manufacturing firms, and policymakers.
Africa possesses vast untapped resources to drive green technology and innovation, from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s extensive cobalt reserves, which are critical for global battery production, to the vast stretches of coastal desert for green hydrogen development, not to mention the continent’s solar potential. The continent also boasts a rapidly evolving innovation and technology sector, particularly in countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Morocco. There has been a rise in tech hubs and an increasing number of universities are specializing in science and technology.
With the right policy mix, Africa can build on its growing technology and innovation momentum to support entrepreneurs in developing a critical mass of green technologies and innovations for both local and global markets. The opportunities arising from natural resource development and an emerging industrial base can drive demand while meeting global needs for carbon-neutral technologies.
This policy paper is one of a four-part ACET series focusing on green industrialization and economic transformation in Africa. The papers present thorough research informed by discussions with stakeholders on emerging technologies, digital public infrastructure, renewable energy, and critical minerals. The series provides policymakers with concise, evidence-based analysis and actionable recommendations on regulatory and policy measures, showing how green industrialization can drive economic transformation while addressing the bottlenecks to a just transition.
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