The Ethiopian capital is hosting the second African Climate Summit, a three-day gathering under the theme “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for a Green and Resilient Africa”. The event brings together African leaders alongside more than 25,000 delegates, climate experts, academics, and global figures.
The summit comes at a time when Africa faces mounting climate challenges, with growing calls to reposition the continent not merely as a negotiating bloc but as a hub for climate solutions. It follows the first African Climate Summit held in Nairobi in September 2023, where leaders pledged over $23 billion for sustainable development and urged reforms to the global financial system, including a carbon tax to support adaptation efforts.
Opening the summit, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stressed that Africa should no longer be seen as a perpetual victim of climate change but rather as a leader in shaping the global climate economy. “We are not here to negotiate our survival but to design the next climate economy,” he said, highlighting the continent’s young, creative population and its vast carbon reserves.
Waste Management and Green Jobs
Among the key initiatives discussed are projects to transform waste management by promoting recycling and turning waste into economically valuable products. According to Hanna Mamo, who leads Ethiopia’s Multi-Option Economic Transformation Project, more than 6,000 small and medium enterprises have benefited from training and technical support, creating some 250,000 jobs while promoting sustainable growth and environmental protection.
Reports estimate that Africa requires $1.3 trillion annually to adapt to climate change, despite contributing less than 4% of global emissions. By contrast, industrialized nations—responsible for over 150 years of heavy pollution—have offered only about $300 billion, far below what is needed.
The African Union has identified priority areas including climate-smart agriculture, biodiversity protection, renewable energy expansion, and modern water management. Delivering on these goals, AU Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat warned, requires climate justice, genuine international cooperation, and access to financing and technology.
The summit has also showcased community-driven projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions. One initiative, presented by Dutch participant Thijs Molenbroek, promotes improved cookstoves as an alternative to charcoal use, reducing pollution and health risks. However, he noted the high upfront cost—around $600 per unit—remains a barrier for poor households and called for stronger financial support.
While the Addis Ababa summit reflects Africa’s growing assertiveness in global climate diplomacy, the continent still faces significant funding gaps. Experts estimate it needs $250 billion annually to implement its climate strategies, but current financing falls short at roughly $30 billion.
Partnerships and investment pledges are expected to be signed during the summit, though the absence of a clear mechanism to monitor commitments risks slowing progress.
The second African Climate Summit underscores Africa’s determination to move from climate victimhood to leadership, yet its ambitions remain tied to the critical question of fair and reliable financing.
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