Africa has the potential to become the fastest growing opportunity for climate-tech and the first continent to develop in harmony with the environment.

That was the message from Joshua Romisher, CEO and head of portfolio at Holocene climate-focused investment and advisory firm.

Romisher, who delivered the keynote address at the ongoing AfricArena Nairobi Summit: Africa Climate Tech Week, said that the continent has an important part to play in global climate discussions.

He added that technology can enable a unique developmental model that harnesses the environment.

Speaking to ITWeb Africa on the event sidelines, Romisher said: “The world is waking up to the idea that we need to work on climate solutions.

“People are missing that Africa is about to grow incredibly fast. Yet, Africa, as a whole, receives less than one percent of all venture capital in the world. We need to start thinking of models in Africa where we can grow and consume differently from the global north.”

He said Africa has a unique opportunity to become the first continent in the world that can grow and consume in balance with the climate. “That is an amazing opportunity,” he added.

Romisher is upbeat about the potential for climate-driven innovations for Africa, because, as he said: “Fifty percent of the world’s renewable energy capacity exists in Africa, we have deserts, wind; we have tonnes of opportunities, but we haven’t brought these online yet.”

He added: “Technology becomes the great equaliser for the world and can unlock an entire data set of bio-diversity we don’t have now. We have to use technology in places it can be most optimised.

“Africa has an opportunity to create an entirely different model, where we can develop and do so in harmony with the climate, but it takes a lot of innovation, collaborations and it takes big thinking.”

Romisher is one of several investors at the event seeking to meet African start-ups working in climate tech and focused on the green economy.

The summit is set to include pitches from a host of African start-ups including: Aquarech, Gene Plus Global, RHEA Soil Health, iShamba Limited, eAgro, Stable Foods, Maua Mazuri, Loowatt, Monsapo, Cinch, Africa Collect Textiles, Gjenge, Knights & Apps, Bottle Logistics, Alternative Energy, Lean Energy Solutions, and Ekotech.

In addition, there will be six Korean start-ups, working together with the Korea-Africa Foundation, that will pitch their solutions to investors at the conference. These are: Beyond Captur, Thanks Carbon, EcoLinks, BlueGold, Solarinno, and TRCK Energy.