CAA Earth Day 2025
April 22, 2025 – This Earth Day, we recognize the power of global partnership in the fight against climate change. From Canada to Sub-Saharan Africa, communities are are committed to advancing renewable energy projects and to building a more sustainable future.
Aligned with Earth Day’s 2025 theme—Our Power, Our Planet—the global goal is to triple renewable energy by 2030, tapping into clean sources like solar, wind, hydro, tidal, and geothermal. But it’s not just about energy technology—it’s also about equity, resilience, and shared responsibility.
In the context of Earth Day 2025, with a theme focusing on renewable energy, these are the Climate Action Africa (CAA) initiatives making a difference in sub–Saharan Africa to respond to the needs of developing countries identified at the local level. CAA deploys mostly Canadian climate change experts to partner with governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector on targeted, short-term technical assistance (TA) initiatives to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement across the region – with a focus on increasing women’s capabilities to fully participate as active agents of change.
Spotlight on CAA Renewable Energy Projects:
Kenya: Empowering Rural Communities with Clean Cooking Solutions (024)
CAA partnered with Chemichemi Foundation and Canadian expert Future at Play to introduce smokeless biomass briquettes in Kenya’s Upishi Safi Mashinani region. The project included hands-on training in briquette-making and entrepreneurship, promoting clean cooking, income generation, and circular economy practices. Key Highlights on this completed initiative include:
- Inclusive training with support for participants with disabilities
- High participant confidence and engagement
- Estimated wood savings of 1 ton per household per year
Benin: Advancing Green Finance for Energy Transition (013)
In partnership with the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations du Bénin and Baastel, this project supports the creation of a Green Bank / Facility to mobilize public and private investment for clean energy. It includes technical studies and frameworks to identify and fund eligible green projects.
South Africa: Strengthening Cleantech Clusters for Climate Innovation (056)
With support from Écotech Québec, South Africa’s GreenCape is developing a strategic roadmap for cleantech cluster development. The goal: create a collaborative network to accelerate green innovation, attract investment, and create green jobs across Africa.
Tanzania: Unlocking Geothermal Potential (046)
In partnership with Oxfam Consults, the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC) is conducting surface exploration studies at Meru and Ibadakuli. This aims to integrate low-emission geothermal energy into the national energy mix and support long-term development.
Ghana: Powering the Ashanti Region with Hybrid Clean Energy (052)
CAA will support Kwamoka Group with technical assistance to develop a 14 MW hybrid waste-to-energy and solar plant. This project will convert agricultural waste and solar power into clean electricity, reducing emissions and supporting responsible waste management.
Through these and other initiatives, Canada is proud to support:
- Greater investment in climate resilience
- Stronger national policies and low-carbon strategies
- Implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Adaptation Plans
About Climate Action Africa
Based on needs identified at the local level, the Expert Deployment Mechanism – Climate Action Africa (EDM-CAA) initiative deploys mostly Canadian climate change experts to partner with governments, NGOs, the private sector, civil society organizations and post-secondary institutions on targeted, short-term technical assistance in support of implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement across the region – with a focus on increasing women’s capabilities to fully participate as active agents of change.
Climate Action Africa is a Government of Canada initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by a Consortium of partners – Alinea International, Econoler and WSP.
Learn more about CAA’s work:
https://climateactionafrica.ca/technical-assistance
