This policy brief delves into the complex interplay between export finance and the protections offered through investment treaties and how these two support schemes have facilitated large-scale fossil fuel projects. The brief highlights the implications of this ‘double coverage’ for host countries, which face the risk of long-term carbon lock-in. 

By examining Angola’s approach to export finance and investment treaties, the brief highlights how these support schemes can be reformed to align with climate and development goals. Angola’s use of export finance for renewable energy and its shift to investment facilitation agreements offer a model for supporting sustainable energy transitions. The brief provides actionable recommendations for reshaping these financial and legal mechanisms to advance Africa’s low-carbon future.