Amazon-Africa Nexus: Scaling Critical Minerals for Inclusive Green Transitions

The global energy transition is driving an unprecedented demand for critical minerals, which are abundant in both the Amazon and Africa. However, both regions face the risk of repeating historical patterns of raw material extraction without value addition. While Africa needs an estimated $2.8 trillion by 2030 for NDC implementation, it currently receives less than 20% of the required annual funding. The demand for critical minerals presents a unique opportunity for both continents to leverage their resources and redefine their role in the global energy system. This event will explore a new model of South-South cooperation that moves beyond traditional dependency on the Global North. We will showcase how forest conservation finance models, a strength of the Amazon region, can inform sustainable mineral revenue mechanisms in Africa, and how both regions can collaborate to build green value chains and ensure local communities benefit from the transition.