The impact of climate change on Africa is catastrophic and likely underestimated. As Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, highlighted at The World Bank Spring Meetings, "9 of the 10 most vulnerable countries to climate change globally are in Africa."

According to the 2022 State of the Climate in Africa report, 110 million people across the continent were affected by weather, climate, and water-related hazards. However, experts believe this figure may be conservative due to under-reporting and insufficient research.

Enzi Ijayo Africa Initiative attended London Climate Action Week 2024. The just concluded London Climate Action Week featured over 300 events on a range of topics. Throughout the six events we attended throughout the week, recurring themes were the year of democracy and the role of politics, geopolitics, and climate finance. The following are key points in “Defining Climate Finance.”

Italy is expected to unveil the Mattei Plan on the sidelines of the Italy-Africa Summit on January 28- 29, 2024. The summit coincides with Italy’s G-7 Presidency, emphasising Italy's role in the global arena at a time of complex global security threats and continued tension at the global cooperation platforms. For Italy, the G-7 presidency also offers an opportunity to focus on its partnership with Africa. 

Against this backdrop, the Mattei Plan is described as an “opportunity to propose a paradigm shift with African partners”. Further, the plan is expected to inform the  Europe Marshall Plan for Africa, making it a defining point for Italy-Africa and Europe-Africa relations. The plan will be supported through the climate fund, with the ambition to direct 70% of the fund, a total of 3 billion euros to Africa.