Sustainability Summit 2025

On October 6, 2025, Certa Foundation's Center for Climate Justice and ALN Kenya co-convened the second edition of the Sustainability Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, in partnership with Green Legacy (Nigeria), GSMA (Kenya), and ICELIS Global (Qatar). The summit brought together over 100 participants, including leaders, policymakers, innovators, and advocates from across Africa, to advance climate justice through dialogue, collaboration, and community-led solutions.

The day began with inspiring remarks from Rosa Nduati-Mutero, Managing Partner at ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna, who reminded participants that “with great capacity comes great responsibility.” She emphasized that climate action is not only about survival but about justice and transformation. Dr. Dahir M. Hashim, Honourable Commissioner at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Kano State, Nigeria, underscored the urgency of advancing solutions that centre on real communities and people. He noted that this approach builds on the momentum advanced during the Kano State, Nigeria Country Insight Climate Justice Summit, co-organized by Green Legacy and the Center for Climate Justice in July 2025. Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, delivered a keynote framing climate justice as a moral responsibility that demands collaboration, equity, and courage, noting that integrating local knowledge into policy is key to building resilience and tackling inequality.

The summit continued with a fireside chat on "Stewarding Africa’s Natural Wealth," sparking a conversation about the continent’s most vital resource, its people, and their wisdom in protecting the land. From there, panel discussions explored how to scale local climate efforts while ensuring policies, funding, and knowledge systems empower communities rather than overlook them. Speakers emphasized inclusivity, intergenerational equity, and practical strategies to transition Africa toward renewable energy and sustainable growth. Geoffrey Kimiti, Co-founder of Powerpay Africa, highlighted solutions that are both entrepreneurial and investable, while Patricia Kameri-Mbote, Director of the Law Division at UNEP, reminded participants that climate action must benefit both present and future generations.

Youth innovators brought energy and ideas to the summit, showcasing projects from Adumu Limited, Farm to Feed, Revazi, and MOMA Renewable Energy that address real climate challenges. Their presentations were a powerful reminder that community-led and youth-driven initiatives are critical to building a resilient Africa. The summit underscored the importance of supporting, promoting, and investing in these youth-led solutions, ensuring that the present African generation of innovators can scale their impact across the continent. Dr. Umar Saleh Anka, Director of Climate Change at the Kano State Ministry of Environment, speaking on the final panel, emphasized the importance of proactive regional collaboration, urging Africa to shape its climate and development agenda rather than respond reactively. Faith Macharia, Partner at ALN, closed the discussions with a powerful reminder of the African spirit of Ubuntu, calling for collective action and regional collaboration. She urged participants to carry forward the lessons, challenges, and connections from the day, turning dialogue into tangible impact for a more sustainable and just Africa.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners and collaborators for making the summit impactful. We will soon release a policy brief highlighting the key discussions, lessons, and actionable opportunities from the Nairobi Sustainability Summit. 

In solidarity and with a shared sense of purpose, we look forward to continuing these conversations and building on our collective Pan-African insights to advance meaningful, inclusive, and transformative climate action.

See you next year!

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