Climate Collaboration Strengthened: African Envoy Meets Russian Leaders in Moscow

In February 2025, Mr. Ali Daud Mohamed, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) and Special Climate Envoy of the President of Kenya, traveled to Moscow, Russia, to engage in a series of events focused on enhancing Russia-Africa cooperation on climate initiatives.

During his visit, Mr. Mohamed met with key Russian officials, including Mr. Ruslan Edelgeriyev, Presidential Aide and Special Representative on Climate Issues; Mr. Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister; Mr. Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa; and Mr. Andrey Melnichenko, Chair of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs’ Committee on Climate Policy and Carbon Regulation.

The discussions addressed critical aspects of the global climate agenda, including fair approaches to setting climate targets, prospects for a global carbon market, and the urgency of tackling trade barriers disguised as climate policies.

Mr. Edelgeriyev underscored Russia’s steadfast support for the Paris Agreement’s cost-reducing mechanisms, such as the global carbon market, affordable climate finance, and equitable technology transfers, despite obstacles in international negotiations.

Mr. Novak emphasized the need for a just and phased transition to a low-carbon economy, respecting diverse national priorities.

“Green and conventional energy can coexist and support each other. Reducing emissions doesn’t mean solely rejecting fossil fuels, and a fair transition shouldn’t prohibit investment in such projects,” he stated.

Following this, both parties agreed to formulate a joint work plan to advance climate collaboration between Russia and the African Union, involving business communities from both sides.

Mr. Mohamed highlighted the inequities in global climate policies, noting that Africa, responsible for only 4% of historical emissions, faces undue pressure to adopt stringent targets and limit its resource use.

“Western countries, with their significant historical emissions and higher per capita rates than Africa or Latin America, should bear greater responsibility in their NDCs,” he argued, proposing a per capita global emissions budget for fairer NDC allocations—a proposal Russia endorsed.

He also raised concerns about climate-linked trade measures, such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU CBAM), calling them discriminatory against African exporters and unfair to low-emitting nations.

Mr. Melnichenko concurred, labeling the global climate agenda as troubled and calling for unified efforts. “Merging Africa’s 1.4 billion-strong voice with Russia’s diplomatic and technological capabilities could push for a more equitable climate framework,” he said, noting Russian climate project developers’ readiness to partner with Africa once carbon markets scale up.

Russia presented preliminary findings from its National Climate Monitoring System, showing its ecosystems absorb twice as much CO2-equivalent as previously estimated, enhancing its climate negotiation leverage.

Mr. Melnichenko emphasized science’s critical role in shaping global climate stances, while Mr. Mohamed expressed Africa’s interest in securing reliable emissions and absorption data, identifying this as a flagship area for future Russia-Africa climate cooperation.