Welcome to Green Rising – The climate community has had a horrible year. I don’t think anyone will dispute that. 

It started this week 12 months ago with the election of “You Know Who” in America. An unhappy global anniversary.

The response of the African climate sector to the Trumpian onslaught over the past year? Consternation, in a word. Not only. But many players in the ecosystem still seem frozen. 

Looking over their shoulder, trying to figure out where others are going, while ensuring nobody is coming from the front to gore them. That describes many large foundations. 

The community individually and collectively has been in a huddle for most of the year, trying to figure out what the future will look like now, stalked by the green Voldemort. 

What do we know for sure so far? Yes, climate spending has been waning, though not across the board.

A well-placed source in Kenya said: “Generally, given the US's turn away from climate change, people are looking more to the Middle East and Asia for funders.”

The speed with which certain funding dried up is perhaps the most shocking. The dissolution of USAID was followed by other funders stepping away rather rather than in.

There is a debate still about what is affected and why. Startup and innovation funding slowed here before Trump was elected. Electric mobility continues to draw funding. EV maker Spiro just raised a record $100 million. Climate justice and adaptation are harder hit. 

The most uncertain perhaps is Africa’s renewable energy sector. Across the continent, everything from hydropower to rooftop solar has seen growing amounts of interest and cash. 

And yet, globally renewables may be slowing. A report by energy data firm Wood Mackenzie says wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, supply chain bottlenecks, and the Trump administration’s campaign of trade wars are undermining the energy transition.

The strongest and possibly most useful response to the “greenlash” of the past year has been a greater focus on private sector solutions, strengthening the link between “green” and “economy”. 

The argument goes that if Africa can put prosperity at the centre of the debate, rather than nature, it can win. Especially when prosperity is profit-driven rather than aid-induced. 

More companies making more investments, creating more green jobs, feeding more families who can hence afford more healthcare as well as more nature-friendly products such as EVs.

Of course none of this is new. It predates the past year – but has become even louder. The latest convert is Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder turned hyper-philanthropist. 

In a long essay, he suggests that instead of spending money on cutting emissions it’s more helpful to focus on – or at least focus more on – improving livelihoods. 

He seems to suggest that framing climate as the main problem has undermined what remains a significant issue. He got a lot of sympathetic nods on the continent. 

The impact of the past year is likely to be even deeper though. Our language around “climate” will change. 

Environmental consciousness has been a mass movement for decades. A generation ago proponents already called for "green" solutions (and created Green political parties). They:

• Warned about "acid rain" destroying forests

• Slapped the label "bio" on what conformed to new product norms

• Spoke of a “greenhouse effect” before it became “global warming”

• This century, the lingo shifted to warnings about “climate change”

• Solutions were labelled "ESG" and "nature-based" 

Successful movements often invent their own language. And the language evolves over time. Right now we are at a point where words for what we want to achieve with regards to "the environment" change again. 

Opponents in red caps made the existing language toxic in public discourse. "Climate" and “green” have become “bad” terms to some. So we will create new ones. Again. 

There is a long way to go before Africa can regain some control of the narrative. COP in Brazil this month will be the first test. 

But it appears unlikely that the caravan has already found a new voice. It is still hitting many of the old notes, and hitting them well. But that no longer does the trick. 

The climate movement needs a new song. And a new name. Nowhere is this more relevant than in Africa where lack of prosperity is the overwhelming issue. 

How will humans be impacted directly by climate change, not just forests or frogs? That question points in a promising direction. In Africa, millions of lives are at risk. And millions of green jobs could be transformational. 

People understand people. A “climate crisis” is abstract to many, even if real. A new narrative would do well to focus on, say, green jobs rising. 

Number of the week

… is the total renewable energy funding and commitments in Africa for October 2025. Funding doubled from prior months, spanning 28 deals in 14 countries, reflecting expanding investment markets and supportive policies. Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Zambia also secured major deals, while multi-country initiatives totaling $1.26 billion target regional grid integration and clean energy projects.

Network corner

What we’re reading

• Green seeds: The momentum for green and sustainability bonds is sweeping across Africa, though the continent accounts for less than 1% of the global market. The more mature economies like South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya are enabling banks and energy companies to issue bonds for renewable energy and climate-resilient projects. The shift away from sovereign guarantees is enabling private institutions to underwrite bonds based on project viability. Still, challenges like foreign exchange risk, shallow local markets, and the difficulty for small developers to meet issuance requirements persist. (Renewables Rising)

• The grid unchained: African countries are transitioning away from state-controlled energy monopolies toward liberalised electricity markets. Zimbabwe is the latest to end its utility's monopoly, following the lead of more mature markets like South Africa and Zambia. (Renewables Rising)

• Waste to wings: Circular aviation is gaining traction with countries and airlines exploring Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) derived from waste. Kenya Airways recently operated the continent's first verified low-carbon flight using a 50% SAF blend from used cooking oil. Ethiopia and South Africa are developing similar roadmaps. (Circular Rising)

Top green jobs from…

• World Agroforestry: Country Director (Cote d’Ivoire)

• Conservation Intl: Director West Africa Mangroves (Sierra Leone)

• Crossboundary: Head of Investment (Kenya)

• M-KOPA: Head of Business Management (Uganda)

• myAgro: Deputy Country Director (Senegal )

• BURN Manufacturing: Country Manager (Ethiopia)

• AltGen Recruitment: Country Lead (Botswana)

• One Acre Fund: Burundi Impact Lead (Burundi)

• Shift EV: Head of Customer Success (Egypt)

• d.light: Regional Business Manager (Nigeria)