Nigerian entrepreneur Aliko Dangote has united with illustrious tech leaders, including the likes of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, to inaugurate the critically important movement known as the [Breakthrough Energy Coalition](http://www.breakthroughenergycoalition.com/en/). This initiative is a direct response to the exigencies discussed at the COP climate summit in Paris, with its primary objective being to sharply decrease global carbon emissions.
Impressively, the names of only two African business titans surfaced on the list of founding members; the first is Aliko Dangote from Nigeria and the second Patrice Motsepe, Founder and Executive Chairman of African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) hailing from South Africa. Both the aforementioned nations are economic powerhouses within the continent, housing nearly 60% of Africa’s entire [data centre space](https://www.techbooky.com/post-title/data-centre-on-the-rise-in-africa-but-growth-is-uneven/). Collectively, they represent a populace of over 230 million, a significant portion of the total African population that exceeds one billion.
In addition to boasting large populations, both countries host a majority of Africa’s multinational corporations, embodying the continent’s hub of industrialisation. Given their influential status, these countries play a vital role in battling the effects of climate change.
The Breakthrough Energy Coalition has a clear and committed mission, as conveyed in their founding statement. The Coalition aims to create an ecosystem of private capital committed to accelerating the switch to more sustainable energy sources. This will be accomplished by identifying worthy projects and backing innovative ideas flowing from the public research pipeline, pointing towards a future of advanced, clean energy.
An illustration of this commitment in practice is evidenced by Facebook, a member of this coalition that announced their plans for a [clean energy powered data centre](https://www.techbooky.com/post-title/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-facebooks-coming-110-acre-data-centre/) operational on 100% renewable energy.
This expansive list of founding members for the Breakthrough Energy Coalition consists of globally recognized figures:
1. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited, India.
2. John Arnold, Co-chair, Laura and John Arnold Foundation, United States.
3. Marc Benioff, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Salesforce.com, United States.
4. Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO, Amazon, United States.
5. HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alwaleed Philanthropies, Saudi Arabia.
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With these influential figures using their resources to combat climate change, we can anticipate a profound impact on the shift toward sustainable energy. Their collective commitment toward funding research into cleaner energy sources signals a promising future.
Moreover, their involvement carries a symbolic significance, sending a strong message that the world’s biggest industries are ready to address the urgent climate issues facing our planet. As this initiative continues to gain traction, it’s clear that these entrepreneurs are not only leaders in their respective fields but also pioneers in the battle against climate change.
*This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.*
Paul Balo is the founder of TechBooky and a highly skilled wireless communications professional with a strong background in cloud computing, offering extensive experience in designing, implementing, and managing wireless communication systems.
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