Contextualising Decarbonisation for Africa: A Policy-to-Action Framework for Developing Net Zero Pathways

Africa faces a dual challenge: addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change while fostering sustainable economic growth. Africa has experienced a complex story of growth, opportunity, and environmental challenges. The continent’s vast wealth of resources, minerals, oil, and agricultural products is at the core of this narrative, fuelling the economic growth in many African countries. However, the environmental costs of this growth have been marginalised. The continent’s low contribution to global emissions (<3%) contrasts with its significant vulnerability to climate change. Drawing on relevant literature and case examples, this article introduces a Policy-to-Action (P2A) framework centred on Policy Alignment, Scalable Action, and Stakeholder Integration, presenting a structured approach for practitioners and policymakers, particularly government actors, to develop African decarbonisation policies.