The 20th Ordinary Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-20) is scheduled to take place from July 14 to 18, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya. This year’s session marks the 40th anniversary of AMCEN and will focus on reviewing four decades of environmental action in Africa while setting a strategic vision for the future under the theme “The AMCEN We Want.”
The conference aims to strengthen collaboration among African countries and international partners to improve the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements and address pressing environmental challenges.
A central agenda item is the development of a unified African position ahead of upcoming global environmental negotiations, ensuring that the continent’s priorities are effectively represented on the international stage.
Ministers will evaluate progress in key policy areas such as biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, pollution control, and sustainable development. Discussions are expected to lead to formal policy recommendations and action plans for the next decade.
Several side events will address cross-cutting issues, including the environmental and economic impacts of open waste dumping and burning, with an emphasis on circular economy strategies and public-private collaboration.
For the business community, AMCEN-20 presents implications for regulatory harmonization across African markets, particularly in sectors tied to waste management, agriculture, and renewable energy. The conference may also serve as a platform for launching green financing mechanisms and investment partnerships aimed at accelerating Africa’s transition to a sustainable economy.
Participants from the private sector are expected to engage in dialogue around co-investment opportunities, especially in emerging climate resilience and nature-based solution initiatives.
