At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, ZERO13 organised a panel in collaboration with SECDEX Group and The Ministry Of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment of the Republic Of Seychelles at the African Union Commission pavilion. This session explored the remarkable opportunities and significant challenges that Africa’s carbon markets are encountering, with a targeted emphasis on addressing the enormous multi-trillion-dollar funding gap, enhancing market transparency, and enabling African countries to assume a leading position in the global carbon market. The panellists assessed the current scenario, forecast upcoming trends, and underscore the crucial importance of digital technologies in increasing efficiencies This essential discussion aligns perfectly with the African Union Commission’s aspirations for sustainable economic development and climate resilience, as well as the critical topics of COP29.
Moderated by Hirander Misra, Chairman of ZERO13 and SECDEX, the panel featured several industry leaders:
• Clifford Bastille, Senior Climate Policy Analyst, Department of Climate Change and Energy, Seychelles Ministry of Environment and Energy
• Juliana Bempah, Principal Programme Officer, Carbon Market Office, Ghana Environmental Protection Agency
• Dr. Pacifica F. Achieng Ogola, PhD, Director, Climate Change, Ministry of Environment & Forestry, Kenya
• Reina Otsuka, Lead, Digital for Nature & Climate, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• Suresh Yadav – Senior Director, AI, Trade, Ocean and Natural Resources, The Commonwealth
