SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — California and African leaders met in San Francisco to strengthen partnerships on clean transportation, climate action and trade during the 2nd Annual California-Africa Climate and Economic Forum.
The forum, held at the Exploratorium during San Francisco Climate Week, brought together officials from Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo alongside California state leaders, academics and industry representatives.
California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin hosted the event, where participants discussed expanding collaboration on clean transportation, energy and sustainable economic growth.
“Today’s conversations showed the scale of opportunity between California and our African partners,” Omishakin said. “As we advance Governor Newsom’s vision for a cleaner, more connected global economy, we are turning shared priorities into action — expanding trade, investing in clean energy, fostering sustainable agriculture, accelerating clean transportation and delivering real benefits for communities.”
The program featured keynote remarks from Ali Mohamed, Kenya’s special presidential envoy for climate change, and Omotenioye Majekodunmi, director general of Nigeria’s National Council on Climate Change, along with leaders from academia and industry.
“California, the world’s fourth-largest economy, partnering with Africa — the fastest-growing region, rich in human and natural capital — underscores the strategic importance of this collaboration for both sides,” Mohamed said.
“The CACEF partnership is significant in that it moves us from dialogue to delivery,” Majekodunmi said. “It brings together California’s global strengths in green technology, innovation and venture capital with Nigeria’s fast-growing fintech sector and youthful talent, creating a high-impact ecosystem for exchange, investment and problem-solving.”
Sessions throughout the day focused on expanding sustainable aviation connectivity, accelerating transportation decarbonization across ports and urban systems, advancing clean energy solutions and unlocking climate finance to support long-term economic growth.
David Hochschild, chair of the California Energy Commission, said the discussions could drive innovation in California, expand economic opportunity in Africa and reduce emissions globally.
California officials said the state has formalized collaboration through memoranda of understanding with Kenya and Nigeria to advance clean transportation and climate action. The agreements establish a framework for cooperation in zero-emission transportation, sustainable freight, clean energy innovation, workforce development and knowledge sharing.
The forum was organized by the California State Transportation Agency in partnership with the University of California Davis Institute of Transportation Studies and the Bay Area Council, laying the groundwork for continued collaboration and future trade delegations.
Africa is projected to account for one in four people globally by 2050, and officials said its growing economic influence makes it a critical partner in global climate efforts. In 2022, California exported nearly $800 million in goods to African markets, underscoring the potential to expand trade alongside climate cooperation.