Africa is building fast, and the decisions being made right now about how that infrastructure is produced will define the continent’s industrial carbon footprint for the next fifty years. On 18 June 2026, GAYO, through GAYO Eco-Clubs and YCCGA, brought together 207 young Africans from 22 countries for a structured virtual consultation on cement decarbonization and green industrialization, in direct preparation for the Africa Dialogue on Cement for Green Industrialization in Addis Ababa (6–8 July 2026). In partnership with UNIDO’s Energy Systems and Industrial Decarbonization Unit, participants learned from global technical experts, deliberated in facilitated breakout groups on policy, finance, and education, and produced twelve concrete youth recommendations that were formally submitted to the Addis Ababa Dialogue.
This report captures everything that happened, what participants knew before the session and what changed in three hours, what young Africans from Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Botswana, Tanzania, and beyond said about the barriers holding back the green industrial transition, and the full set of recommendations that Africa’s youth are placing on the table for governments, industry, and financial institutions. If you work in climate policy, green finance, sustainable construction, industrial transformation, or youth development, this is the conversation you need to be part of.