Chinese and African experts on Monday, December 8, 2025, called for more investment in clean energy, stressing that the shift to green power is crucial for fighting climate change and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
The experts spoke at a side event held alongside the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), highlighting that renewable energy is key to addressing the climate crisis, which has hit the Global South hardest.
The event was hosted by the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Kenya’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, and the World Wildlife Fund.
GEIDCO Chairman Xin Baoan, speaking via video, said expanding renewable energy use would strengthen climate action, protect vital ecosystems like forests, improve human health, and boost the global economy.
“A global energy transition that is orderly will help countries achieve climate goals, ensuring that economic development sustains harmony between man and nature,” Xin said.
Alex Wachira, principal secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, called the adoption of clean energy a global necessity.
He noted that Kenya already generates 93 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, including geothermal, hydropower, wind, and solar.
Wachira also highlighted that the growth of electric mobility in the country is improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions.
“The uptake of clean energy helps chart low-carbon development pathways while reversing the harmful impacts of climate change,” he said.
Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, director of UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division, emphasized that a successful green transition requires investment in infrastructure as well as strong policy and regulatory support.
She urged policymakers, consumers, and investors to understand the benefits of renewable energy.
“An increased awareness of the benefits of transitioning to green energy will benefit the planet, already reeling from a runaway temperature rise,” Aggarwal-Khan said.
The experts agreed that investing in renewable energy is not only vital for the environment but also a driver of economic growth and social development.
With countries like Kenya leading the way, scaling up green energy investments across Africa is essential for building a sustainable, low-carbon future.
They stressed that aligning economic development with environmental sustainability will create opportunities for communities while protecting the planet for generations to come.
The world's top environmental decision-making body UNEA-7 (Seventh UN Environment Assembly) meeting is underway in Nairobi under the theme "Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet," focusing on critical industry, finance, health links to sustainability, and approving UNEP's 2026-2029 strategy.
The meeting running from December 8 to 12,2025, brings together global leaders and stakeholders to set the environmental agenda and tackle challenges like mineral extraction and deep-sea mining.
