James Irungu Mwangi

Our lives depend on curbing climate change, but so many priorities seem to be in competition. What's the most urgent thing humanity can do right now? Social entrepreneur James Irungu Mwangi tells us why Africa could be the ideal home for scaling the latest and most ambitious climate technologies -- including in places like Kenya's Hell's Gate National Park, which could become part of what he calls the "Great Carbon Valley."

Africa holds more than 60 percent of the world’s solar potential … yet it draws a fraction of global clean-energy investment. Social entrepreneur James Irungu Mwangi sees a continent brimming with untapped opportunity. From biochar producers in rural Kenya to young women training as solar technicians through virtual reality, he’s witnessed firsthand how entrepreneurs are creating jobs and cutting emissions at the same time. He shows why Africa doesn’t have to choose between prosperity and the planet — it can turn climate solutions into the next great engine of growth.