The Second Africa Climate Summit opens in Addis Ababa with a call for climate investment and African-led solutions

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 8 September 2025.The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) opened today in Addis Ababa with a clear call from African leaders to move from rhetoric to action—positioning Africa not as a victim of climate change, but as a driving force of solutions and the next global climate economy. 

Co-convened by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE), and the African Union Commission(AUC), the Summit convened Heads of State and Government, ministers, diplomats, and international partners under the theme: “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.” 

In his keynote address, H.E Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia urged the world to reframe Africa’s role in climate action. “Too often, Africa’s story at climate summits begins with what we lack—finance, technology, time. Let us begin instead with what we have,” he declared. 

He highlighted Africa’s unique assets: the youngest population in the world, bursting with creativity and innovation; the fastest-growing solar belt on Earth; the planet’s last great carbon vaults—our forests, wetlands, and coasts; and vast arable land capable of feeding a growing continent and beyond.

The Prime Minister outlined Ethiopia’s own record of action, including the Green Legacy Initiative (48 billion trees planted in seven years), the Climate-Resilient Wheat Initiative, and the imminent commissioning of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), set to generate 5,000 MW of renewable energy. 

“We are not here to negotiate our survival. We are here to design the world’s next climateeconomy,” he said. “When Africa’s land heals, when our rivers run clean, and our air isfresh, Africa wins—and the whole world breathes easier.” 

He also announced Ethiopia’s candidacy to host COP32 in 2027, inviting the world to Addis Ababa as “Africa’s capital of diplomacy and climate ambition.” 

Opening the Summit, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, stressed the need for justice and equity in climate finance.

Union Commission firmly believes that climate finance must be fair, significant, and predictable,” he said. “The vulnerability of our member countries—exacerbated byclimate change, debt burdens, and structural inequalities in the global financial system—must be addressed through climate justice and genuine cooperation.” 

‘’The aspirations of our countries for substantial and meaningful financing must be takenwithseriousness and determination. This must be achieved through a genuine fund for lossanddamage, endowed with sufficient financial resources. Carbon credits should not be managedby polluting states at their discretion but rather by an independent international body withsupranational authority. The Green Fund must also be renewed and redirected towardsfinancing projects that deliver regional and continental climate value.’’ He underscored. 

President William Ruto of Kenya, host of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, praised Ethiopia for building on that momentum. “In Nairobi, we introduced a bold new perspective of Africa as a continent of opportunity and solutions, not merely a victim,” he said. “We framed climate action not as a burden, but asadriver of economic growth, transformation, and job creation.” 

President Ruto highlighted Africa’s progress since the Nairobi Declaration, including green infrastructure, climate-smart agriculture, and renewable energy advances. But he also cautioned:  “No nation can solve this crisis alone. Only bold, united, and sustained collaboration can avert climate catastrophe. Isolation is not a winning strategy—it is courting failure.”

ADDIS ABABA PROPOSES AFRICAN CLIMATE INNOVATION COMPACT

Looking ahead, Prime Minister Abiy proposed launching the African Climate InnovationCompact (ACIC)—a continent-wide partnership uniting universities, research institutions, startups, rural communities, and innovators. 

The Compact aims to deliver 1,000 African climate solutions by 2030 across energy, agriculture, water, transport, and resilience. 

Structured around five pillars—innovation discovery, financing, knowledge development, policy enablement, and public engagement—ACIC will be backed by a blendedfinancing model targeting $50 billion annually. 

By mobilizing African leadership, global partnerships, and private sector investment, the Compact seeks to strengthen renewable energy, agriculture, and water security; advance biodiversity and resilient cities; create green jobs and boost economic growth; and position Africa as a net exporter of climate solutions, aligned with Agenda2063, the Paris Agreement, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The official opening of ACS2 began with a symbolic tree-planting ceremony at the Addis Ababa International Convention Center (AICC). 

African Heads of State, ministers, and dignitaries planted trees as a powerful gesture of unity and commitment to ecosystem restoration. Each tree stands as a living testament to Africa’s resolve to safeguard the environment for future generations.