ACX was created to promote sustainable development in Africa through facilitating the development of projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

There is an overwhelming consensus among the world's leading
climate scientists that global warming is happening and that much
of this warming is being caused by carbon dioxide and other
so-called "greenhouse gases" emitted by human activities, mainly
the combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation. If nothing is done
to prevent or limit these changes, they will have major and possibly
catastrophic environmental, economic and social consequences.

As part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – the Kyoto Protocol has powerful and legally binding measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under the Kyoto Protocol the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) provides a framework to stimulate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries.

Additionally voluntary markets, such as the Chicago Climate Exchange in the US also provide a strong support for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries.

Substantial activities have already taken place under the CDM, mainly in Latin America (i.e. Brazil) and Asia (i.e. China and India), however any investments in Africa are far lagging behind.