AGP Executive Report

Regional Clean Energy: ECOWAS countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, adopted a directive to expand energy storage for renewable power. It also sets out guidance on battery safety, recycling and disposal. Extreme Heat: A massive heat storm swept across the globe and touched Côte d’Ivoire, underscoring the growing reach of dangerous heat. Abidjan Mobility: The planned electric metro is advancing as a high-capacity link across seven municipalities, intended to ease pressure on crowded roads. Cocoa Resilience: A disease-resistant cacao plant is moving into field trials in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The work could matter to Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa sector, though testing is not taking place locally.

Regional Clean Energy: West African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, adopted a directive to expand battery storage for renewable power, with guidelines covering battery safety, recycling and disposal. Heat Risks: New ILO projections warn that workplace heat could cost Ghana and Senegal hundreds of thousands of full-time-job equivalents by 2040; a separate global analysis reports that extreme heat events are growing larger and longer, with impacts reaching Côte d’Ivoire. Abidjan Mobility: The city’s planned 37-kilometre electric metro is advancing, with capacity for more than 500,000 passenger journeys daily and the potential to ease pressure on busy roads. Cocoa Resilience: A cacao plant edited for resistance to black pod disease is moving into field evaluation in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The disease causes major crop losses worldwide, making the research relevant to Côte d’Ivoire, a leading cocoa producer. Conservation Funding: International support for nature conservation fell for a second year, widening the gap between current funding and what is needed to meet the global 2030 conservation target.

Conservation Funding: International support for protected areas has fallen for a second year, leaving funding far below what is needed for the global 30% conservation target by 2030. The cuts threaten conservation efforts in Africa as well. Extreme Heat: A new analysis finds huge, long-lasting heat events are now sweeping the planet; the largest this decade touched Côte d’Ivoire and affected nearly 85% of the globe. Climate-Resilient Cocoa: Ivorian researchers have developed 11 cocoa varieties that show promise under water stress, as shifting rainfall puts the country’s vital crop at risk. They plan to release the varieties to farmers. Marine Protection: Côte d’Ivoire and Maritime Zone F partners set 2027 priorities for joint naval operations, including training to address marine pollution and other threats at sea.

Extreme Heat: A global “heat storm” spanning nearly 85% of the planet lasted 367 days, with Ivory Coast among the places affected, underscoring the growing reach of severe heat. Conservation Funding: International support for protected areas has fallen for a second year, reaching about one-sixth of the annual $6 billion researchers say is needed to meet the global 30-by-30 conservation target. Marine Protection: Naval and coast guard officials meeting in Abidjan put marine pollution among the threats requiring joint training and stronger regional coordination. Climate-Resilient Cocoa: As rainfall becomes less predictable, Ivorian researchers have developed 11 cocoa varieties that show promise under water stress, aiming to help protect the country’s vital crop.

Extreme Heat: Heat storms have grown from isolated episodes into sprawling events; the largest this decade lasted 367 days and touched nearly 85% of the globe, including Côte d’Ivoire. Marine Protection: Naval and coast guard leaders meeting in Abidjan set regional priorities for 2027, including training on marine pollution and coordinated maritime operations. Climate-Resilient Cocoa: Ivorian researchers have developed 11 promising cocoa varieties that better withstand water stress, as declining and unpredictable rainfall threatens farmers and the country’s vital crop.

Marine Protection: Côte d’Ivoire joined Maritime Zone F partners in Abidjan to set priorities for 2027, including training to tackle marine pollution and stronger coordination at sea. Climate-Resilient Cocoa: Researchers at Côte d’Ivoire’s CNRA have developed 11 promising cocoa varieties that are less sensitive to water shortages, as rainfall has declined since the 1980s. They hope to eventually release the varieties to help farmers withstand increasingly unpredictable weather. Nature Finance: The African Development Bank is putting nature at the centre of finance plans across 13 countries, while COP17 opened amid gaps in national biodiversity plans and a push to meet 2030 goals.

Clean Mobility: Spiro and ESP have launched a Rwanda pilot training women to work in electric transport, with plans to reach 5,000 participants across Africa by 2030. Climate-Resilient Cocoa: Côte d’Ivoire’s agronomic research center has developed 11 promising cocoa varieties tested for tolerance to water stress, as rainfall has declined and become less predictable. Marine Protection: Naval and coast guard leaders meeting in Abidjan identified marine pollution among the threats requiring regional training and coordinated action.

Climate-Resilient Cocoa: Côte d’Ivoire’s CNRA researchers have developed 11 promising cocoa varieties that are less sensitive to water shortages, aiming to help farmers cope with hotter, less predictable weather. The country’s rainfall has trended downward since the 1980s, putting a crop that supports millions at risk. Marine Protection: Naval and coast guard chiefs meeting in Abidjan set regional priorities for 2027, including training to tackle marine pollution and stronger coordination across West African waters. Nature in Development: The African Development Bank has begun a second phase of work with 13 African countries to use natural-resource accounts in public planning and budgets, and help direct investment toward nature.

Marine Protection: Côte d’Ivoire and Maritime Zone F partners met in Abidjan to set 2027 priorities, including training and coordinated responses to marine pollution. Mining: Perseus Mining says its Yaouré underground operation has reached commercial production as the company reports stronger-than-planned gold output. Coastal Impacts: In Cameroon, fishers say offshore platforms restrict access to fishing grounds; a new report also highlights tar balls and stranded dolphins among the costs to coastal communities and marine life. Cocoa and Climate: Poor weather and crop disease in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are driving cocoa prices higher, underscoring how conditions in the region’s major growing areas affect farmers and global supply.

Marine Protection: Maritime Zone F’s naval and coast guard chiefs met in Abidjan to plan regional operations and 2027 priorities, including training on marine pollution and stronger cooperation to protect shared waters. Cocoa and Climate: Côte d’Ivoire’s poor weather and crop disease have helped drive global cocoa prices higher. African industry leaders are also pressing for more local processing and a greater share of cocoa’s value. Illegal Mining: Côte d’Ivoire is stepping up efforts against illegal gold mining as production has risen sharply, from 13 tonnes in 2012 to 51 tonnes in 2023. Nature Finance: A new African Development Bank initiative will help 13 countries use natural-resource accounts in budgets and development plans, aiming to steer investment toward nature.

Cocoa and Climate: Poor weather and crop disease in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are pushing up global cocoa prices, adding pressure on farmers and chocolate buyers. Fairtrade Bananas: From January 2027, minimum prices for Côte d’Ivoire’s conventional bananas will rise 3% and organic bananas 2.5%; the separate Fairtrade Premium is unchanged. Illegal Gold Mining: Côte d’Ivoire is stepping up efforts against illegal mining as official gold production climbed from 13 tonnes in 2012 to 51 tonnes in 2023. Nature Finance: The African Development Bank is launching a second phase to help 13 countries include the value of natural resources in public budgets and development plans. Extreme Heat: A global analysis finds the largest heat event this decade covered nearly 85% of Earth and lasted 367 days, underscoring how rapidly extreme heat is expanding.

Cocoa & Climate: Heavy rain disrupted Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa harvest and transport, after earlier dry spells stressed crops. Forecasters warn that drier conditions could return, while a record heat storm this decade covered nearly 85% of the planet. Illegal Mining: Côte d’Ivoire is stepping up efforts against illegal gold mining as official production has climbed sharply, reaching 51 tonnes in 2023, up from 13 tonnes in 2012. Nature Finance: The African Development Bank has launched a new initiative to help 13 countries factor natural assets into budgets and development plans, and attract investment that benefits nature.

Cocoa & Climate: Poor weather in Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s top cocoa producer, has disrupted harvests and transport, while concern about further dry conditions is adding pressure to global cocoa prices. Illegal Gold Mining: Côte d’Ivoire is stepping up efforts to curb illegal gold mining, as an Africa-wide report highlights the scale of gold smuggling and lost public revenue. Extreme Heat: A Reuters analysis finds vast, prolonged “heat storms” have grown sharply more frequent: averaging about 102 a year this decade, compared with five in the 1960s. The largest lasted 367 days and covered nearly 85% of the planet. Nature Finance: The African Development Bank has launched a project to help 13 countries factor natural assets into public budgets and development plans, and attract investment that benefits nature.

Cocoa and Climate: Dry weather across much of Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa belt has raised fresh concerns about harvests, adding to weather pressures that have disrupted supply and driven up prices. Illegal Mining: A report says Côte d’Ivoire’s official gold production rose from 13 tonnes in 2012 to 51 tonnes in 2023, while highlighting the country’s push to tackle illegal mining and smuggling. Nature Finance: The African Development Bank has launched a project to help 13 African countries use natural-resource accounts in budgeting and development plans; the countries involved were not specified. Biodiversity: Ahead of COP17, 113 countries—58% of parties to the UN nature treaty—had submitted updated biodiversity plans, leaving many still behind on commitments to protect nature by 2030. Extreme Heat: A global analysis found the largest heat event recorded lasted 367 days and affected nearly 85% of the planet, underscoring the scale of growing climate risks.

Cocoa and Climate: Dry weather across most of Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa belt last week renewed concern over the coming harvest, after heavy rains disrupted crops and transport. With the country the world’s largest cocoa producer, further weather swings could affect farmers and global supply. Illegal Gold Mining: Côte d’Ivoire is stepping up its fight against illegal gold mining as official production has climbed from 13 tonnes in 2012 to 51 tonnes in 2023. Enforcement remains key to bringing more of the country’s gold trade into formal channels.

Cocoa and Weather: Dry conditions across much of Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa belt are raising concerns about harvests and supply, as volatile weather continues to unsettle the world’s top cocoa producer. Extreme Heat: A global analysis finds giant, long-lasting heat events have become far more common; the largest on record lasted 367 days and covered nearly 85% of the planet, underscoring the growing climate risks facing farms and communities. Illegal Mining: Côte d’Ivoire is stepping up efforts against illegal gold mining, which threatens ecosystems while diverting production from official channels. Nature in Finance: The African Development Bank has launched a project to help 13 countries use natural-resource data in budgets and development plans, directing investment toward nature-positive outcomes.