Exclusive interview with Abdilahi Nuh, Founder and CEO, Presto Innovations, Kenya. He was a speaker at the preconference day on the carbon project development process at the inaugural Carbon Markets Africa Summit in Johannesburg in October 2025.

Interview Summary:

Abdilahi Nuh describes his journey from early curiosity about environmental issues to becoming a leading carbon-removal project developer in Kenya. Growing up in a community where climate change was viewed as purely spiritual, he worked to build awareness, co-founding the Green Youth Union in Somalia to educate young people and elders about climate risks. His deeper immersion into carbon markets led to the creation of Presto Innovations, a climate-tech venture focused on carbon removal, regenerative land use and community-driven environmental restoration. The company’s flagship biochar project in Garissa County transforms invasive species into a tool for carbon sequestration while empowering smallholder farmers, women and youth.

Nuh highlights Africa’s strong potential in carbon markets due to its abundant land, biomass and ready communities, though challenges remain, including evolving methodologies, regulatory inconsistencies and the complexities of local engagement. He believes African countries like Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa are setting the pace with clear frameworks and community-centred policies. His vision is for high-integrity, community-led projects where revenues flow directly to local people. He stresses the essential role of youth and entrepreneurship in shaping fair and effective carbon markets. Nuh describes the Carbon Markets Africa Summit as a pivotal event that fosters collaboration, innovation and African leadership.

Thank you for joining us. Please can we start with some background on you and your organisation.
I am an engineered carbon removal project developer based in Nairobi, Kenya.

I’ve always had a naturally curious, charismatic way of exploring big global issues. That curiosity eventually pulled me deep into climate and environmental work a path that wasn’t obvious in the society I grew up in. Where I come from, many people believe that climate is entirely in the hands of God, which is true in a spiritual sense, but it also means people often aren’t aware of how human actions contribute to environmental change.

When I first started talking about climate and carbon removal, people would laugh or brush it off. But I kept learning taking courses, fellowships and leadership programmes and slowly watched the attitude shift. People around me began to understand, ask questions and to take the issue seriously. That transformation motivated me to take the knowledge back home.

I co-founded Green Youth Union in Somalia, focusing on educating communities especially youth and elders about climate change, land degradation and the future risks facing the region. We partnered with universities like Plasma University in southern Somalia to run awareness programmes. Funding challenges eventually limited the organisation’s activities, but the impact on people’s awareness stayed with me.

Later, I came across the world of carbon markets. I immersed myself fully, studying different projects, methodologies, learning how projects are built, and engaging with developers across the continent. That journey eventually led me to start Presto Innovations, which is an African climate-tech venture working on carbon removal, regenerative land use and community-led environmental restoration.

Tell us more about Presto Innovations and the projects you are involved in.
Presto Innovations really is a climate tech venture focused on carbon sequestration or rather carbon dioxide removal, working with smallholder farmers. Our work is grounded in the belief that climate action must uplift people while restoring ecosystems.

We’ve just completed our flagship project, which is a biochar carbon dioxide removal project using invasive species like Prosophis juliflora as our biomass North Eastern Kenya, Garissa County.

What we’re trying to do is put farmers at the forefront of the climate solution. As you all know, agriculture is one of the biggest emitters. Around 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the agricultural sector. So our goal really is to empower smallholder farmers. It’s not just about carbon removal and carbon markets, but really trying to empower these farmers, the women, the youth, and put them at the forefront of the climate solution.

How important is the continent for the future of carbon markets?

Africa really is a frontier because we’ve got the land, we’ve got the biomass and abundant feedstock. Communities are really ready to participate. And I personally believe that carbon markets could unlock billions in climate adaptation and rural development.

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You are working in a system that is constantly evolving and changing. What are the main challenges in your view?
There are a lot of challenges. Just to mention a few: there is a lot of uncertainty in methodologies, slow verification processes and inconsistent national regulations. Many early-stage project developers struggle with Registration and MRV costs. That’s on the cost side.

But with implementation on the ground what we have to consider is dealing with the county or the area location you’re doing the project in dealing with the national government, which has a lot of back and forth. Then lastly, dealing with the farmers. One thing we’ve realised is, it’s not easy to deal with farmers. So, it’s not good to come off as an authority trying to work with the farmers, but rather working with them and making the project a community-based project where they run the project, and you’re the one helping them run it.

How is Africa positioned in your view to take advantage of this burgeoning opportunity?
I would say Africa is positioned perfectly if we prioritise transparency and local ownership. We’ve got the natural assets, we’ve got the urgency, but what we need is capacity building and strong policies to really guide carbon-removal project developers and ease the process of making Africa a frontier in the carbon market space, considering that the Global South is very impacted by climate change.

Which countries on the continent are doing the right things to prepare for carbon markets?
Just to mention a few, my country Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa are doing fantastic work and are leading in carbon markets. They’ve built regulations to guide project developers and putting emphasis on communities and benefit sharing. They’re developing Article 6 frameworks, national registries and clear carbon market guidance. In short, they are like a hub for all African countries kind of follow what these regulations are doing and to really guide private project developers.

What is your vision for this sector? And particularly regarding the role of youth and entrepreneurship.

My vision for this sector is making carbon credit projects locally led by the communities and having high integrity carbon credits. What’s really important in the sale of carbon credits, rather climate finance, is that these funds go directly to the communities. We don’t need brokers; we don’t need intermediaries to help facilitate this. We need projects that not only have carbon credit sales or are beneficial to the climate, we need projects that have strong social impact and economic impact for the areas where the projects are being done.

It’s incredibly important to be a young person working in this space, and equally important that we bring even more young people into the carbon markets space. In the broader climate conversation, youth are the generation that will live longest with the consequences of today’s decisions especially those made on international platforms and at major climate conferences.

That’s why our involvement isn’t optional; it’s essential. Young people need to understand how carbon markets function, how policies are shaped, and how these mechanisms influence climate action on the ground. The more informed and engaged we are, the better positioned we’ll be to advocate for fair, transparent and effective systems. Ultimately, youth participation helps ensure that carbon markets evolve in a way that genuinely supports sustainable development and safeguards our future.

And when we talk about youth, we also have to talk about entrepreneurship. Many young people aren’t waiting for opportunities they’re creating them. In my case, I’m building a climate-tech venture focused on carbon dioxide removal with smallholder farmers. Right now, we’re producing biochar from invasive species such as the problematic Prosopis juliflora, transforming something environmentally harmful into something valuable for the climate, for people and for the soil.

This is just one example of how young innovators can turn local challenges into climate solutions. With the right support, youth-led enterprises can play a major role in strengthening carbon markets and driving real, tangible impact on the ground.

You were a speaker at the inaugural Carbon Markets Africa Summit. What was your experience at the event and what was the engagement like?
It was a fantastic experience and powerful. I got to meet a lot of people where our conversations were honest and practical, not just theory, I connected with digital MRV potential partners and investors that we will be working with to do our projects. I met international organisations who are very keen and interested to be a part of the carbon market space where they see carbon markets as a development tool, not just a financial mechanism.

As you may know, now the world is moving away from donor-funded projects. Rather that they need and what they’re looking for is projects that can sustain themselves.

How important is such an event for the continent?
It’s extremely important truly critical for the continent. The Carbon Markets Africa Summit came at a pivotal moment for the carbon market space. While many people see carbon markets as a new or emerging sector, the reality is that the market has existed for years; what’s changing now is Africa’s level of engagement, ownership, and visibility within it.

Events like this are essential because they bring policymakers, financiers, technical experts, and project developers into the same room. That’s where real momentum begins when decision-makers and practitioners can speak directly to each other, align their priorities, and identify practical pathways to unlock Africa’s potential.

For a continent with enormous natural assets, millions of smallholder farmers, and rapidly growing climate-tech innovation, these conversations help remove barriers, build trust, and accelerate investment. The summit creates a platform for African voices to shape the rules, the standards, and the future direction of carbon markets globally. And most importantly, it ensures that the benefits of these markets actually reach African communities on the ground.