As Africa Readies for 2nd Climate Summit in Addis Ababa

The African Union Commission (AUC) and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GoE) will host the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, come September 8–10 under the theme: “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.”

Despite contributing least to global emissions, African countries suffer the harshest climate impacts—spending over 5% of GDP on responses, often diverting resources from health, education, and other priorities. To drive Africa’s climate leadership, green growth, and finance agenda, the African Union Commission (AUC) convened the first Africa Climate Summit (ACS) in September 2023 at Nairobi, Kenya.

The summit delivered key outcomes, including the launch of the African Climate Momentum initiative, mobilizing over $20 billion in pledges for green growth and adaptation, and the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration—a unified call for greater investment in renewable energy, carbon markets, and climate resilience.

Building on this momentum, the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) will spotlight Africa’s ambition and homegrown solutions as central to the global climate response, while driving forward the Nairobi Declaration’s 11-point call to action for a united continental stance on climate action.

“ACS2 to Advance Africa-led climate solutions” –AU’s ARBE Commissioner

In his remarks on the upcoming Summit, His Excellency Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) at the AU Commission, said the gathering will advance climate solutions and financing for Africa’s green development, with a strong focus on renewable energy.

“This is our moment to lead, innovate, and deliver. Yet, the gaps are stark—only 18% of annual mitigation needs are funded, just 20% of adaptation needs are covered, and only 18% of total climate finance comes from private sources, far below global averages. While Africa requires $3 trillion to meet its climate goals, it received just $30 billion between 2021 and 2022,” the Commissioner emphasized,” the Commissioner said.

“Accelerate Adaptation, Resilience to Climate Change” – CISONECC

Speaking to African Newspage about the upcoming Summit, Julius Ng’oma, Coordinator of the Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC), emphasized the importance of financing local solutions to the climate crisis.

“There are many locally-led and community-owned initiatives on adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage across Africa, but most remain undocumented and unsupported. This Summit is an opportunity to push for an accessible, grant-based climate finance pact that prioritizes these solutions. Doing so will accelerate community and ecosystem resilience to the growing impacts of climate change,” he said.

Ng’oma also urged African countries to leverage the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance while ensuring the effective implementation of National Adaptation Plans and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to drive continent-wide adaptation.

“ACS2: Africa Should Leverage Minerals for Green Industrialisation”- Power Shift Africa

Fredrick Otieno, Programs Manager at Power Shift Africa, said the Summit is an opportunity for Africa to assert global leadership by harnessing its natural and human capital to drive green industrialization

“Africa holds some of the world’s largest deposits of critical green minerals for renewable energy technologies, yet the supply chains are dominated by foreign multinationals who export raw ores for processing abroad. A shift toward green industrialization is urgent—not only to redress this imbalance but to secure fairer systems of trade.”

Otieno added that Africa must also prioritize food sovereignty by moving away from the neocolonial model of export-oriented crops, and instead promote indigenous, climate-resilient food varieties to strengthen community resilience to climate shocks.

“It’s Time to Upscale Community-led Adaptation” – Concern Worldwide

Tommy Chimpanzi, Programs Coordinator for Concern Worldwide, stressed the urgency of scaling up community-led climate adaptation initiatives with adequate resources. “Accessible climate finance is critical. This Summit must amplify the voices of frontline communities, promote direct financing for local actors, and align with national strategies that enable communities to take anticipatory actions, implement adaptation measures, and build resilience.”

Chimpanzi added that a key outcome of the Summit should be a bold Addis Ababa Declaration—one that champions Africa’s climate priorities, unlocks climate finance, and firmly embeds locally-led adaptation into global and national funding frameworks.

The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) will bring together leaders from across Africa and beyond to design and catalyze African-led climate solutions, including the UN Secretary-General. Deliberations will focus on leveraging both domestic and international finance—anchored in African priorities and local innovation—to accelerate the implementation of existing commitments.

The Summit will be preceded with pre-summit events including Thirteenth Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-XIII), the second African Youth Climate Assembly 2025 and the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) from 5-7 September 2025. These events coupled will position Africa at the center of global climate discussions, creating synergies between continental solutions and international processes.