World Leaders Arrive as Africa Climate Summit Begins in Ethiopia

World leaders, delegates, and top United Nations officials have begun arriving in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the second edition of the Africa Climate Summit (ACS2).

Themed ‘Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development’, the summit is billed for September 8-10.

Heads of state, policymakers, climate experts, and civil society groups are expected to use the summit to forge a common African position ahead of the COP30 negotiations scheduled for Brazil next year.

Discussions will centre on how Africa can tap its vast renewable energy potential, showcase homegrown technology, attract climate finance, and strike a balance between development priorities and urgent climate action.

The first edition of the summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2023, where African leaders adopted the Nairobi Declaration — a roadmap for the continent’s green growth and financing agenda.

ACS2 is anticipated to build on that foundation, with participants pushing for stronger commitments to adaptation, climate-resilient infrastructure, and innovative financing mechanisms that do not saddle African economies with unsustainable debt.

The summit is also expected to culminate in the Addis Declaration, a joint commitment outlining Africa’s climate priorities and demands to the global community.