For the second time in 12 months, Environment ministers attending the African Ministerial Conference on Environment pledged to accelerate green growth. It is an ambitious pledge for economies that have been battered by Covid-19, which has paralysed global supply-chains, reversed GDP growth rates in Africa and thrown back development efforts.

Nevertheless, green growth is within reach, and, importantly, it is already being pursued. Transformative solar and wind farms can be seen in Morocco. In Rwanda, the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain is increasing farmers’ revenues and foster low-carbon development. Ethiopia is planting 20 billion trees and it is sending out one billion seeds to its neighbours.

Regionally, the Economic Community of 15 West African States has adopted cleaner fuels standards and is already implementing regulation for importing used vehicles. Both measures will help lower greenhouse gas emissions and clear up air, with a direct impact on people’s health — air pollution was responsible for 1.1 million deaths across Africa in 2019.

Continentally, the Africa Green Stimulus Programme is being pursued. It prioritises smart investments in infrastructure, technology and nature-based solutions. It combines domestic financing with regulatory standards, as well as market-based instruments, including green bonds and SDG bonds.

Despite all these efforts, harsh impacts of climate change will continue to be felt everywhere, especially in Africa. They will persist, even if global emissions drop. African countries should not be expected to rapidly mitigate emissions and adapt to the climate crisis all on their own.

Advanced economies must use COP26 in Glasgow next month to finally catch-up and mobilise the $100 billion they have pledged, on an annual basis, to address pressing mitigation and adaptation needs of low-income countries. That needs to be the minimum $6.9 trillion is needed per year until 2050 for infrastructure investment that meets development goals and is aligned with a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.

While pressure is high on countries deliver on their Paris commitments, we must enable them to do so. Some are still advancing coal, oil and gas exploration and mining. In coal-dependent South Africa, for example, an accelerated transition to renewable energy may save the country $6.6 billion.

The transition is where many countries (including high-income ones) struggle mostly.

Fifty-two out of 54 African countries have ratified the Paris Agreement, but up to 70 percent of African governments lack an implementation investment plan. Supporting the transition from one economy to another is where global cooperation is most needed.

With COP26 upon us, African countries have an opportunity to lead by example and make ambitious pledges that would make a global impasse less likely.

Joyce Msuya is the Deputy Executive Director of UNEP. UNEP and the entire international community system have a critical role: to provide policy, facilitate knowledge sharing and promote dialogue, inspire innovation, and mobilise the private sector to make the green investments that align with Africa’s own green ambitions.