Carbon markets are quickly becoming one of Africa’s most promising opportunities for climate finance and sustainable development. Yet the complexity of validation, verification, regulation and monetisation continues to challenge project developers, financiers and governments alike.
“This isn’t mining or retail. The returns, timelines and requirements are different,” says Olivia Tuchten, Principal Climate Change Advisor at Promethium Carbon. “There’s money to be made and good to be done – but only if stakeholders upskill and understand the process.”
CMAS is Africa’s response – a strategic event focused on building confidence, closing knowledge gaps and accelerating real transactions.
Strategic Moment: Africa’s Carbon Future and the Global Agenda
The timing of CMAS is particularly significant. With growing global momentum around carbon pricing and the operationalisation of Article 6, the outcomes of the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in November are expected to influence the future architecture of global carbon markets.
As the G20 debates issues like carbon border adjustment mechanisms and international credit standards, Africa must be ready to respond with a united, informed voice. CMAS provides a platform for African stakeholders to strategically align, share technical insights, and sharpen positions – not only for G20, but also in preparation for COP30, where climate finance and carbon market governance will again take centre stage.
“We are in the right place and at the right time today to ensure that Africa benefits from carbon markets,” says Prof Anthony Nyong, Director of Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank.
A Unique Value Proposition: What Sets CMAS Apart
- Pan-African Focus with Global Reach: Prioritising African leadership while connecting to international buyers, standards and financiers.
- Ministerial Roundtable (21 October): A closed-door session convening African environment, climate and finance ministers to align policy priorities and amplify Africa’s voice at COP30 and G20.
- Deal-Making Platforms: Investor roundtables, project showcases, deep-dive workshops and curated networking designed to convert conversations into transactions.
- Integrity & Compliance: Navigate voluntary and compliance carbon markets with rigor, exploring Article 6, regional frameworks and global best practice.
- Project Visibility: Spotlight on investable, Africa-based carbon projects with real climate and community impact.
- Pre-COP30 Momentum: CMAS will help unify African market positions and technical readiness in the lead-up to multilateral climate finance negotiations.
Advisory Board: A Multi-Sectoral Powerhouse
To ensure CMAS reflects Africa’s diverse needs and opportunities in carbon markets, an influential advisory board has been convened, including:
- Andrew Gilder – Director, Climate Legal, South Africa
- Andrew Ocama – Eastern Africa Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, Uganda
- Bianca Gichangi – Regional Lead – Africa, VCMI, Kenya
- Brett Stacey – Director, Carbon Zero Verification, United Kingdom
- Dr Olufunso Somorin – Regional Principal Officer, AfDB, Kenya
- Heather McEwan – Regional Representative, Verra, South Africa
- Javier Mazanares – CEO, Allen Manza, Panama
- Lawrence Cole-Morgan – Carbon Credit Trading Lead, Standard Bank, South Africa
- Mathis Granjon – Trader, Green Steps, Netherlands
- Maxime Bayen – Operating Partner, Catalyst Fund, Spain
- Olivia Tuchten – Promethium Carbon, South Africa
- Reshma Shah – Lead, Carbon Markets, FSD Africa, Kenya
- Bernardin Uzayisaba, Carbon Market Programme Specialist, UNDP, South Africa
- Ibrahim Shelleng, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Government of Nigeria
A Pathway to African Ownership
“Africa is still not maximising its potential. We need to do things differently,” says Olufunso Somorin, AfDB. “One of the challenges is that there are many good project developers who have very good ideas, but they don’t have the resource to jumpstart their idea into an investable project.” Somorin continues: “The AfDB has created the African Carbon Support Facility, and we are hoping to start off with a $100 million capitalisation.” Among the goals are supporting countries towards market-creating policy shifts, and the bulk of the funds will provide resources to project developers and assist in validation costs. “The AfDB wants to increase the number of African-owned, African-based and African-led project developments on the ground,” he adds.
According to Lawrence Cole-Morgan, Standard Bank, “the carbon markets provide Africa with the ability to monetise its significant carbon sequestration potential to fund socio-economic development and badly needed adaptation, while making a meaningful contribution to combatting climate change.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Ocama, Eastern Africa Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, is of the opinion that “each country is at a different level of readiness to actively participate in the carbon markets. To the seven Alliance countries, these markets are an important avenue for finance owing to their accountability and the measurability of their outcomes.”
Event Details
21 October – Pre-Summit Day
- Carbon 101 seminar
- High-impact dialogue by the Global Trust Project
22–23 October – Main Summit
- Plenaries
- Ministerial Roundtable
- Investor roundtables
- Hands-on workshops
- Sector-focused dialogues
- Deal-making and networking
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Organised by VUKA Group
With more than 20 years of experience delivering high-impact B2B events across Africa, VUKA Group is the independent, B-BBEE-compliant force behind platforms like Africa’s Green Economy Summit, Enlit Africa, Smarter Mobility Africa, and DRC Mining Week.
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