By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says countries climate action goals and economic ambitions can work in tandem for greater prosperity.
Ramaphosa was speaking during a fireside chat at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026.
The annual gathering, themed “Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” brings together political leaders, investors, and civil society to shape cooperation on sustainability and climate-resilient development.
Reflecting on South Africa’s drive to raise financing for the Just Energy Transition, Ramaphosa noted that government went about setting its own climate plan and agenda.
“One of the advantages [to this] was, we were able to raise finance smartly, we were able to raise fairly good, blended finance initiatives, grants, concessional financing…so the blended finance architecture was quite good and innovative.”
“We were first from the starting blocks and we’re very pleased that a number of countries from the global south have followed in the wake of what South Africa did. We now have attracted, particularly in the Northern Cape… more than R110 billion in investments.”
“That has happened because it was South Africa designed and we got the financiers to work with us. There was nothing imposed on us like it has happened in the past. In the past, financiers have focused on what they could get out and we have focused on cooperation. A cooperative process has now been followed and both of us are involved, “he explained.
Turning to the Africa’s potential role as an exporter of green energy, Ramaphosa highlighted the continent’s endowment of vast amounts of sun, wind power and hydropower as areas of opportunity for investment.
“A combination of all three, as well as our minerals, gives rise to great opportunities where we can generate energy.”
Africa is the centre where green hydrogen can [also] be greatly utilised. We can use our solar, wind and in doing so, Africa can become an exporter of energy. This is where we invite financiers, investors to come to the African continent.