African Climate Summit Continues in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa – Sudanhorizon

The Second African Climate Summit kicked off yesterday (Monday) in Addis Ababa and will conclude tomorrow (Wednesday).

The summit, convened by the African Union Commission (AUC) and hosted by Ethiopia, brings together heads of state, government officials, ministers, diplomats, and international partners under the theme: “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing Sustainable and Green Development in Africa.”

The African Union published a summary on its website of the keynote address delivered by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who urged the world to reconsider Africa’s role in addressing climate change. He noted that too often, Africa’s story at climate summits begins with what it lacks—funding, technology, and time—arguing instead: “Let us start with what we have.”

Abiy highlighted Africa’s unique wealth: the world’s youngest population brimming with creativity and innovation, the fastest-growing solar belt on the planet, and vast carbon reservoirs in its forests, wetlands, and coastlines.

Also addressing the opening session, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, stressed the need for justice and fairness in climate finance. “The African Union Commission firmly believes that climate financing must be fair, substantial, and predictable. The vulnerabilities of our member states—exacerbated by climate change, debt burdens, and structural inequalities in the global financial system—must be addressed through climate justice and genuine cooperation,” he said.

He further emphasized that African aspirations for significant and meaningful financing must be taken seriously and acted upon. This, he said, requires a genuine Loss and Damage Fund with sufficient financial resources. Carbon credit mechanisms, he argued, should not be managed unilaterally by polluting states but by an independent international body with authority beyond national borders. He also called for the renewal and redirection of the Green Climate Fund towards projects delivering regional and continental climate value.

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