The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) in collaboration with The National Business Initiative (NBI), Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI-ECO) and Nigeria Economic Summit (NESG) in partnership with the African Climate Foundation (ACF) organized a series of Pre-COP27 dialogues between African business across the continent, to foster much-needed collaborative climate action and sharing of best practice from the continent, key learnings, and insights. The series anchored its focus on ‘The Road to COP27’ with businesses engaging on various topics around Just Transitions and climate action. This culminated in a side event at COP27 held on 11^th November 2022 with a focus on, ‘Africa Business Unites to Drive Climate Action’.

The panellist of the session on, ’Africa Business Unite to Drive Climate Action’ included Faith Ngige –Climate Business Information Network -Kenya- KEPSA, Eng. Ahmed Kamal, FEI-ECO, Ms Reitumetse Molotsoane, (NBI) and Dr Eugene Itua, (NESG) and moderated by Mr Alan Wallis, of Africa Climate Foundation- ACF. They shared the importance of having the private sector in a key debate on climate and driving ambition, the role of business in implementing just transitions in Africa and the need to unlock finance in response to climate and economic challenges.

Ms Ngige highlighted that climate change equally affects the private sector; the assets, supply chain logistics and operations, the marketplace and consumers, the infrastructure and human resources are impacted by climate change impacts of floods, drought, storms heat waves among others.  The private sector, therefore, has a role in climate not only as a passive player but has a critical stake in climate action both in terms of protecting itself against the risks arising from climate change but also in innovating solutions, products and services for resilience as well as take active steps in reducing emissions of the green gas house from its operations.

In addressing the subject of inequality, Dr Itua shared the challenge of business especially the small and micro enterprises in unpacking climate science into business as well as accessing climate finance which is often very bureaucratic and full of technical language.

Ms Reitumetse shared the role of business in just transition as that of ensuring that inclusive approaches are adopted to ensure jobs are secured, investments are not sunk and that the transition does not lead to drastic economic shifts at the expense of the business.  Emg. Khamal shared the gains of the collaboration. At the core of these dialogues were regional approaches to just business climate action, transitions and energy transitions, that have seen the four countries, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa sharing insights and progress of re-imagining resilient, just, inclusive Africa and the significance of forging stronger partnerships between businesses and other stakeholders within and between countries to drive increased and effective climate implementation.

The collaborating partners forged an initiative known as, "Africa Business Care," which will see the Africa Business Associations and Federations join efforts to undertake Business Climate Action together, undertaking capacity building and exchange programs as well as developing regional initiatives to address the common climate challenges facing business in Africa.