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From September 6–8, 2025, Addis Ababa hosted the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), positioning Africa as a proactive force in global climate action. Building on the 2023 Nairobi summit, ACS2 emphasized African solutions and leadership, rather than victimhood.
Ethiopia’s Minister of Development, Fitsum Assefa, set the tone, stating: “We are not here to beg. We are here with solutions.” This spirit shaped discussions among governments, institutions, and civil society, who highlighted Africa’s potential to lead the climate transition.
Although attendance by African heads of state declined—from 12 in Nairobi to 4 in Addis—the summit secured major financial commitments, including a proposed USD 50 billion annual climate solutions fund and USD 100 billion from African institutions for a green industrial revolution. Yet, speakers reiterated that without global financial reform and fulfillment of Paris Agreement obligations, real progress is constrained.
The Addis Ababa Declaration on Climate Change, adopted at the summit’s close, framed the climate crisis as a matter of economic justice, estimating Africa’s financial needs at USD 3 trillion by 2030. It demanded that wealthier nations deliver on climate finance—particularly the USD 84 billion needed annually for adaptation, far above the current USD 14 billion.
The declaration also aimed to shift Africa’s image from a climate-vulnerable region to a climate solutions hub, highlighting its vast renewable energy potential and critical mineral reserves. However, experts criticized the text for lacking assertiveness, partly due to low political representation.
Western presence at ACS2 was subdued compared to 2023. The EU was represented only by Teresa Ribera, with modest pledges from Denmark and Italy. In contrast, China’s presence grew, reflecting its dominance in supplying Africa’s solar imports, which reached 15 GW in the past year—raising concerns about Africa remaining a consumer rather than becoming a producer.
Civil society voiced strong concerns. Some warned that the summit risked being overtaken by private capital interests, calling for deeper integration of climate policy with broader goals such as food sovereignty, industrialization, and employment.
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To ensure better coordination, the Addis Declaration proposed holding the summit every three years, rotating across the African Union’s five regions. However, questions remain about Africa’s unity and negotiating strength ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Ultimately, Africa’s path to Belém is not about charity—but about asserting its role as a driver of climate solutions and economic transformation.
