Sarcouncil Journal of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences

Abstract: Africa stands at a pivotal juncture where urgent development imperatives intersect with escalating climate vulnerabilities. Despite contributing less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the continent disproportionately bears the consequences of climate disruption. Yet Africa holds 60% of the world's solar irradiation potential, over 30% of globally critical transition minerals, and the youngest, fastest-growing labour force on earth. This paper analyses Africa's green industrialisation as a transformative development pathway that reconciles economic transformation with ecological preservation, drawing on qualitative, policy-oriented analysis of secondary literature, comparative case studies across five sub-regions, and policy documents. The study establishes that deliberately pursued green industrialisation – leveraging renewable energy, local value addition, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – could generate up to 14 million jobs and boost continental GDP by 6.4% by mid-century. However, if value addition and inclusive participation are not prioritised, the continent risks what this paper terms the green resource curse: the reproduction of extractive economic patterns under a green veneer. The study draws five key policy conclusions spanning climate finance, regional value chains, decentralised energy, skills development, and global trade reform. Africa's green industrialisation experience challenges the 'industrialise first, clean up later' paradigm, offering the global community a replicable model of inclusive, low-carbon growth.