His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya, and Lord Evgeny Lebedev will convene political leaders to discuss the opportunities carbon offsets offer to finance nature protection in Africa while driving sustainable economic growth on Wednesday 3 November at the at COP-26.

Achieving net zero carbon emissions, globally, requires deep emission cuts complemented by the restoration, conservation and protection of Africa’s natural carbon sinks. This will not only help combat climate change but will combat rural poverty through green jobs and enterprises, protect the biodiversity on which we all depend and tackle the illegal wildlife trade, thereby preventing future pandemics. 

Recent movement in the carbon offset markets demonstrates the potential transformative role of the private sector in financing this major conservation uplift on the African continent. However, significant capacity building is required in Africa to create the enabling environment for investment in the emerging carbon sector. Furthermore, the private sector needs to recognise the enormous public value of African carbon-offsets and mobilise and deploy capital accordingly.

Alongside African heads of state and government ministers, speakers from conservation and the private sector include David Antonioli, CEO of Verra, Wanjira Mathai, vice president and regional director for Africa at the World Resources Institute, and Peter Bacchus, chairman of Bacchus Capital and former global head of mining and metals at Morgan Stanley. The event, organised by Space for Giants and its Giants Club, will be streamed live on the website of The Independent and no registration is needed.