Guterres calls for global financial reform and stronger climate justice for Africa

UN chief António Guterres has called for reforms to global financial systems and stronger climate justice for Africa, saying the continent suffers heavily from climate change despite low emissions. At the Nairobi summit, he noted Africa’s huge renewable energy potential but said it receives little global clean energy funding. He urged fairer financing and better support for development. African leaders, including Kenya’s President William Ruto, also called for equal partnerships and stronger African representation in global decision-making.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for urgent reforms to the global financial system and stronger climate justice for Africa, warning that the continent continues to bear a heavy burden from climate change despite contributing only a minimal share of global emissions.
He made the remarks on Tuesday at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, co-hosted by Kenya and France, which brought together more than 30 African and European leaders, investors, diplomats, and development partners. The high-level meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade, industrialisation, infrastructure development, digital transformation, energy transition, and climate financing.
Guterres said Africa is facing increasing economic pressure driven by global instability, including volatile fossil fuel markets, rising energy costs, and fragmented international trade systems. He noted that these challenges are worsening fiscal stress, contributing to inflation, and slowing development progress across many African countries.
He emphasized that although Africa holds immense renewable energy potential, it continues to receive only a very small share of global investment in clean energy. According to him, the continent possesses about 60% of the world’s best solar energy resources but attracts only around 2% of global clean energy financing.
The UN chief stressed that with adequate funding and fairer international financial systems, Africa could significantly transform its energy landscape. He said the continent could generate up to ten times more electricity than it needs by 2040, entirely through renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower, if investment barriers are removed.
Guterres therefore renewed his appeal for sweeping reforms to the international financial architecture. These include reducing the high cost of borrowing for African nations, expanding access to climate finance, and creating more equitable investment systems that support long-term sustainable development rather than deepen global inequality.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who also addressed the summit, called for stronger African representation in global decision-making bodies. He stressed that Africa should not be excluded from key international institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council, where major global decisions are made.
Ruto further argued that Africa’s partnerships with the rest of the world should be based on equality and mutual benefit, rather than dependency or aid. He called for a shift toward investment-driven cooperation that strengthens sovereignty and long-term economic growth across the continent.
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf echoed these concerns, urging fairer global partnerships and stronger multilateral cooperation that reflects Africa’s development priorities. He said Africa must be treated as an equal partner in shaping global policies that affect its future.
The Africa Forward Summit continues to serve as a platform for discussions on how to close Africa’s financing gap, accelerate its energy transition, and strengthen its role in global economic and political systems.