The high-level gathering, themed “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development,” seeks to position Africa more prominently in the global climate conversation ahead of COP30 in Brazil next year. Heads of state, policymakers, climate experts, and civil society organisations are expected to use the platform to articulate a united African stance while advancing innovative pathways for sustainable growth.
Key discussions at the summit will revolve around unlocking the continent’s abundant renewable energy potential, promoting homegrown climate innovations, and securing financing that supports adaptation and resilience without compounding Africa’s debt burden. Delegates are also expected to weigh how development imperatives such as job creation and industrialisation can align with urgent climate goals.
The Addis Ababa meeting builds on the momentum of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit held in Nairobi in 2023. That summit produced the Nairobi Declaration, a continental framework designed to spur green growth, scale up investment, and strengthen Africa’s bargaining power in global negotiations.
This year’s edition is anticipated to take those ambitions further. With the climate impacts on African economies becoming increasingly severe, the summit will press for stronger commitments toward adaptation measures, resilient infrastructure, and financing mechanisms tailored to the realities of African states.
Proceedings are expected to culminate in the adoption of the Addis Declaration, a unified statement of Africa’s priorities and demands to the international community, aimed at ensuring the continent’s voice is not only heard but acted upon in global climate policymaking.