Patmoz
By Njeri Irungu, Nairobi
Nairobi, August 28, 2025 – Ethiopia will host the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS-2) from September 8–10, 2025, at the Addis International Convention Center in Addis Ababa, bringing together more than 45 heads of state, policymakers, financiers, academics, businesses, youth, and civil society.
Speaking to journalists at the Ethiopian Embassy in Nairobi, the Ethiopian Ambassador to Kenya H. E Demeke Atnafu underscored the urgency of the summit, themed “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.”
“This summit is not about new pledges alone; it is about turning pledges into action. Africa cannot afford to remain vulnerable while contributing the least to global emissions. ACS-2 will amplify Africa’s voice in the global climate arena while charting practical solutions for our people,” the Ambassador said.
Africa, which contributes less than 4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, remains one of the regions most severely affected by climate change. Rising temperatures, recurrent droughts, and devastating floods have worsened food insecurity, displaced communities, and strained fragile economies heavily dependent on agriculture. Limited adaptation capacity and inadequate infrastructure have compounded the continent’s vulnerability.
The ambassador emphasized that the summit will provide a platform for African-led climate solutions, encouraging bold financial and political commitments while pushing for reforms in global climate financing structures. One of the summit’s primary focuses will be climate finance, with discussions centered on creative strategies to unlock resources from both the public and private sectors. Leaders will also explore access to global climate funds, expansion of green bonds, and partnerships with financial institutions.
Ethiopia was chosen as the host due to its track record in advancing climate action, notably through Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Green Legacy Initiative (GLI), which has seen the planting of over 40 billion seedlings in seven years to combat deforestation, restore ecosystems, and boost livelihoods.
Prime Minister Abiy, in his message on the upcoming summit, described ACS-2 as “a vital opportunity to redefine Africa’s aspirations for a climate-resilient and prosperous future.” He noted that the summit would spotlight Africa’s bold efforts to re-green its landscapes while laying the foundation for effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.
The first Africa Climate Summit, held in Nairobi in 2023, culminated in the Nairobi Declaration, which called for accelerated implementation of the African Union Climate and Resilient Development Strategy (2022–2032). The declaration demanded a reformed global financial architecture, including debt restructuring for African nations, to allow them to meet both development and climate obligations. It also established ACS as a biennial event to guide Africa’s collective climate action.
Building on that legacy, ACS-2 is expected to culminate in the Addis Ababa Declaration on Climate Change, unifying Africa’s position ahead of COP30 and providing a platform to showcase transformative initiatives in renewable energy, e-mobility, sustainable agriculture, green cities, and nature-based solutions rooted in indigenous knowledge.
“The clock is ticking for Africa,” the ambassador noted. “This summit must shift the conversation from promises to action, and from vulnerability to leadership.”
With global attention increasingly turning to Africa’s role in shaping climate solutions, ACS-2 is set to reaffirm the continent’s determination not only to protect itself from the worsening effects of climate change but also to lead in charting innovative, sustainable pathways for the future.
