Heads of State and Delegates pose for a group photo during the Second Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Sept 8, 2025. [Photo/Agencies]
The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) commenced on Monday, September 8, with a call to action; the continent must swiftly move from ambitious pledges to measurable results.
Held in Ethiopia’s capital, the gathering brought together heads of state, policymakers, and international partners to forge a concrete, finance-backed plan for Africa’s sustainable future.
Convening under the theme “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development,” the summit was marked by a palpable sense of urgency.
Leaders from government, civil society, and youth movements argued that the time for rhetoric has passed.
African Union Commission Chair H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf challenged those present to focus on delivery.
“The credibility of the African Climate Summit will not be judged by eloquence, but by the delivery of results,” he stated. “We must move from vision to delivery, and from rhetoric to results.”
He proposed a three-part framework for success: a detailed action plan with strict timelines, a new financing strategy reliant on grants instead of loans, and an inclusive governance model that treats community groups as “co-creators of Africa’s destiny.”
Host nation Ethiopia showcased its own large-scale environmental initiatives as proof of what is possible.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed highlighted the Green Legacy Initiative, which has planted over 48 billion tree seedlings since 2019, and the soon-to-be-completed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a hydroelectric project designed to supply 5,000 megawatts of clean electricity to the region.
“Too often, Africa’s story begins with what we lack — finance, technology, time,” PM Ahmed remarked.
“Let us instead begin with what we have: the youngest population in the world, vast solar resources, and the resilience to build a new climate economy.”
He formally announced Ethiopia’s bid to host the COP32 global climate conference in 2027.
The critical issue of funding took centre stage.
The European Union pledged a €1.5 billion investment by 2027 to develop renewable energy and resilient infrastructure across the continent.
A representative for the bloc acknowledged progress since the Paris Agreement but issued a stark warning:
“We have brought warming projections down from 3°C to 2.1°C. But 2.1°C is still not safe. Ambition must now turn into action.”
The voices of youth and civil society were prominent throughout the day.
Elizabeth Wathuti of the African Youth Climate Assembly argued for the establishment of a Continental Youth Climate Fund to finance youth-led innovation directly.
“Young Africans are not just asking for a seat at the table,” she said.
“We are building the table.”
Dr. Mithika Mwenda, a leading civil society advocate, emphasised the need for accountability.
“Africa does not need another declaration that gathers dust,” he insisted.
“We need an implementation blueprint with timelines, milestones, and delivery that communities can trust.”
This focus on grassroots impact was echoed by Dr. Rosalid Nkirote of the African Coalition of Communities Responsive to Climate Change (ACCRCC).
The coalition warned that the summit’s success will be judged not by global pledges, but by tangible improvements in the lives of farmers, fishers, and pastoralists.
They also cautioned against climate financing that exacerbates Africa’s debt crisis, insisting that funds must be grant-based and accessible to local communities.
“A just transition means leaving no one behind — not in policy rooms, not in implementation, and not in benefit-sharing,” the coalition stressed, calling for a process that is inclusive of women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
