Africa poised to benefit from global carbon trade, says Shelleng
Ibrahim Shelleng, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Finance and Stakeholder Engagements, has said that Africa is strategically placed to benefit from the expanding global carbon trade market.
Shelleng made this known during a panel discussion at the maiden edition of the Carbon Markets Africa Summit, held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
According to him, Africa has a strong comparative advantage in securing a fair share of the global carbon trade, provided the right structures are put in place.
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Shelleng said: “Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on carbon markets presents a unique opportunity for African nations to influence global carbon market systems and pricing frameworks.
“By developing domestic carbon market policies and regulations supported by law, African countries can guarantee continuity and strengthen investor confidence to attract private capital. Such frameworks also ensure fair benefit-sharing mechanisms, allowing local communities to profit, not just international buyers.”
The presidential aide further noted that integrating carbon markets into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Development Plans (NDPs) would enable African countries to access vital climate and carbon financing needed to achieve their development objectives.
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He stressed the importance of ensuring transparency through sound policy and institutional alignment, as well as robust Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems. Building institutional and human capacity, he said, is essential to prevent carbon markets in Africa from following the path of extractive industries that have historically deprived the continent of equitable returns.
Shelleng highlighted that Africa could mobilise more than $6 billion annually in climate finance by 2030, while also creating over 30 million jobs for the continent’s growing youth population.
The summit brought together carbon market investors, developers, and policymakers from across the continent to discuss strategies for leveraging carbon markets to advance Africa’s sustainable development and decarbonisation goals.
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Shelleng outlined several key steps for Africa to effectively harness opportunities in the global carbon trade. According to him, strong policy foundations, community inclusion, private partnerships, and financing growth.
On the way forward, he called for aligning national strategies with global carbon market standards ahead of COP30, expanding capacity-building initiatives for governments and project developers, fostering regional cooperation and knowledge sharing, and promoting Africa-led, high-integrity carbon projects that deliver tangible benefits for both communities and the climate.
