By Rob McLay and Kasto Festo Ng’itu
Africa is experiencing the most rapid climate shifts in its history, with rising temperatures, severe droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme weather events threatening livelihoods, economies, and ecosystems. Higher education institutions (HEIs) have a unique and urgent role to play in meeting this challenge. They are not just centers of learning—they are incubators for climate solutions, hubs for research excellence, and platforms for policy influence.
Across the continent, universities are reshaping their research agendas, curricula, campus operations, and community engagement strategies to address the climate crisis. They are developing context specific adaptation and mitigation strategies, embedding sustainability into teaching, modeling low carbon practices, and translating research into actionable policy. These actions strengthen resilience, advance sustainable development, and prepare a new generation of leaders capable of navigating a climate altered future.
This synthesis highlights how African HEIs are advancing climate action through five interconnected pathways:
- Research for climate adaptation and mitigation
- Curriculum integration and educational transformation
- Campus greening and operational sustainability
- Community engagement and societal impact
- Networks and continental momentum
Together, these initiatives demonstrate that climate leadership in African higher education is both possible and essential—grounded in rigorous research, embedded in everyday operations, and aligned with Africa’s development priorities.
- Research for Adaptation & Mitigation
• The CLARE Project
The Association of African Universities (AAU), with UK and Canadian partners, leads the $940,000 CLARE initiative, supporting 20 universities across Africa’s subregions. It is co creating the Climate Adaptation Research Focused Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool (CO CAT) to identify institutional research gaps and design tailored interventions.
Clare Programme
• Interdisciplinary Research Hubs
Universities such as the University of KwaZulu Natal (South Africa) and the American University in Cairo (Egypt) are leaders in research on climate resilient agriculture, renewable energy, and water management. Their work influences national adaptation policies and informs local resilience strategies.
UI GreenMetric - Curriculum Integration & Education Transformation
• Embedding Climate into Degree Programs
The Centre for Education and Sustainable Development in Africa (CESDA) is developing standardized climate modules across agriculture, engineering, and social sciences, focusing on adaptation finance, climate science, and sustainable agriculture.
• Green Pedagogy Networks
The African Green Universities and Youth Education Network (AGUYEN), active in nine countries, equips faculty with teaching tools for sustainability and supports student led eco projects.
AGUYEN - Campus Greening & Operational Sustainability
• National and Regional Networks
The Kenya Green University Network (KGUN) unites 67 institutions in implementing UNEP’s Greening Universities Toolkit—adopting solar power, recycling water, and reducing waste. Similar networks exist in Morocco, Uganda, and West Africa.
• Infrastructure Innovations
Campuses such as Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco) and the University of Nottingham’s African branches pioneer electric buses, biodiversity conservation zones, and energy efficient buildings.
UI GreenMetric - Community Engagement & Societal Impact
• Food and Water Security Partnerships
Institutions partner with farmers to introduce drought resistant crops, improve irrigation, and harvest rainwater. For example, Kafrelsheikh University (Egypt) advances efficient irrigation systems, while Bamboo Labs (Ethiopia) develops water saving bamboo products.
• Renewable Energy Innovation
Student innovators at the Climate Action Innovation Hub design solar microgrids and clean cooking solutions to address rural energy poverty.
• Policy Advocacy
The AAU and AGUYEN translate academic research into policy briefs that influence African Union and national climate strategies. - Networks & Continental Momentum
• AGUYEN — A UNEP linked network embedding sustainability and youth leadership across nine African countries.
• Kenya Green University Network (KGUN) — A national model for climate resilient campus operations.
• GUPES (Global Universities Partnership on Environment & Sustainability) — Connects over 530 universities globally, including many African HEIs, to share sustainability practices.
Areas for Further Inquiry
• Integrating climate justice and equity into research and teaching
• Digital learning for climate resilience education
• Long term viability of student led sustainability projects
• Measuring the policy impact of university based climate research
• Financial models for scaling campus sustainability initiatives
Reading List
• Kambiet, P. L., & Mbah, M. F. (2025). Climate Change Education in African Higher Education Institutions.
• Leal Filho, W. et al. (2024). The Role of African Universities in Handling Climate Change. Environmental Sciences Europe.
• AAU & CLARE. (2025). Strengthening African Universities’ Capacity for Climate Adaptation Research.
• University World News. (2024). Sustainability – How Are African Universities Faring?
• UNEP / AGUYEN. Greening Universities Toolkit & Capacity Building Reports.