NAIROBI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The third Climate Change Global Business Summit on Africa kicked off in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on Monday, with the East African nation calling on international investors to finance climate-smart agriculture to boost food security on the continent.
The two-day summit, hosted by The European House-Ambrosetti, brought together global leaders, private sector players and investors to champion climate finance, environmental stewardship and a just transition.
Kenya's Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe warned that failure to finance climate-smart agriculture in Africa could trigger far-reaching consequences for global food systems.
Kagwe said that climate change is already dismantling traditional agricultural systems across Kenya, with extreme weather patterns now defining the country's reality.
"Climate shocks are no longer future risks. They are present disruptions. If agriculture in Africa fails, global food systems will feel the shock," he warned.
The summit aims to catalyze a global discussion on the crucial role of industry in building a climate-resilient Africa.
Through a series of plenary sessions and panels, participants, including more than 150 CEOs, institutional leaders and influential stakeholders from Africa and beyond, will have the opportunity to examine best practices, innovations and policies needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the African continent.
Kagwe said that Kenya's heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture, which accounts for 98 percent of farming, leaves millions exposed to climate variability.
He said the consequences have already been severe, including five failed rainy seasons between 2020 and 2023, 4.4 million people pushed into food insecurity, and the loss of over 2.5 million livestock.
"Even in 2026, the crisis persists. While some regions face deadly floods, others are battling drought and extreme heat, with over two million Kenyans currently in need of emergency food and livestock support," Kagwe said.
But beyond the statistics, Kagwe said that Africa must no longer be sidelined in climate decision-making or subjected to externally designed solutions.
"There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Climate change is a lived experience for our farmers. The answers must come from the ground, not from boardrooms in Brussels, New York or Paris," he said.
