Cover: Aerial view of a densely built coastal town in Africa, next to the sea and forested inland. Text is overlaid on the image.
Policy Brief

Africa’s Vicious Cycle of Debt and Climate Change

Series
For free (plus shipping costs)

Across Africa, climate shocks and debt distress fuel each other in a vicious cycle. With external debt more than tripling since 2008, rising costs and plunging currencies are squeezing public finances - leaving little room for vital climate resilience investments.

This Policy Brief by Alexander Dryden and Ulrich Volz unpacks these dynamics and questions whether current debt assessments are fit for purpose.


» Read more in the dossier "Debt Relief for Green and Inclusive Recovery"

Product details
Date of Publication
October 2025
Publisher
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung and the Centre for Sustainable Finance at SOAS, University of London
Number of Pages
22
Licence
Language of publication
English
Table of contents

Introduction

The Debt Surge and Fiscal Squeeze

Africa’s Climate Financing Needs Are Not Nearly Met

The Limits of the Imf’s Debt Sustainability Analyses

The Drgr Proposal

Conclusion: Strategic Pathways for Addressing Africa’s Debt and Climate Challenges

Successfully added to cart!