Grace Ashiru
As the United States continues its retreat from global climate commitments, African nations are pressing the European Union to step in and cover the resulting funding shortfall.
The US exit from the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC has prompted calls for a realignment of priorities, with the EU now expected to take on a key role in driving climate action on the continent. The pressure comes at a critical moment. Africa’s finance gap for climate adaptation alone is estimated at between $187 billion and $359 billion annually, yet international pledges have consistently fallen short. Despite the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience introduced at COP28, progress on adaptation finance has stalled, with the goal of doubling adaptation finance to $40 billion by 2025 still unmet.
The EU remains a major global climate finance provider, contributing €28.6 billion in 2023, but unmet financial pledges, a lack of transparency around funding, and limited local impact have fueled growing disillusionment across Africa.
Despite Africa’s growing strategic importance, the EU has scaled back its engagement in recent years, with the share of European development aid allocated to Africa falling to its lowest level in decades. Analysts warn that the continent will not simply wait. While Europe hesitates, other actors such as China, Russia, and the Gulf states are systematically expanding their influence through infrastructure projects, investments, and political cooperation.
Private capital is also moving. ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investments recently completed the first close of its Climate Transition Fund at $76 million, working toward an overall target of $200 million to finance climate-resilient infrastructure and energy transition projects across sub-Saharan Africa.With COP30 having failed to fully bridge the gap between ambition and action, the call on European institutions to deliver is growing louder.
