The TED Countdown Summit took place in Nairobi from June 16–18, 2025, showcasing Africa as a pivotal hub for climate solutions. Host to over 600 participants—scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, policymaker, faith leaders and youth from 69 countries—the summit underscored Kenya’s dramatic green energy leadership, with 90% of its grid powered renewably and 50% of that from geothermal
Emphasising local resilience, Day 2 highlighted the untapped potential of informal economies, as entrepreneur Anuj Tanna urged unlocking—not fixing—the creative energy of side hustles. Agribusiness pioneer Yi Li noted that ensuring farmers a steady income is essential for climate action
Day 3 featured inspiring narratives like Doreen Orishaba’s electric buses and Tasso Azevedo’s satellite-led fight against deforestation. Innovative ideas abounded—from gene-edited microbes to geothermal drilling and legal reforms to curb environmental damage
Sessions delivered both big-picture strategies and grassroots intelligence. From electric vehicles and cold-chain technology to youth empowerment—and even rewilding backyard spaces—Countdown Nairobi blended optimism with urgent climate solutions, anchored in Africa’s ingenuity.
Faith leaders had their part to play. A side event was held looking at the role of faith in resilience for climate activists. Speakers at the event included Gopal Patel, Allen Ottaro (CYNESA), Jakir Manela, Rachel Mash, and Daniel Perell.
The very final speaker of the inspiring event was Tariq Al Olaimy and his inspiring message will be up on Ted.com in the weeks to come , don’t miss it!
Gopal’s speech at a previous TED talk can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neipUPkQZBA
