By Luganda David Nsiyonna
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) is scheduled for September 8-10, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This biennial event, co-convened by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Union Commission, will operate under the theme “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development”.
The summit aims to build on the commitments made during the 2023 inaugural summit, which produced the Nairobi Declaration.
The summit’s two primary pillars are showcasing Africa-led climate solutions and unlocking climate finance. According to H.E. Moses Vilakati, a Commissioner with the African Union Commission, Africa is facing a significant climate finance gap; he warns that while the continent needs $3 trillion for its climate goals, it only received $30 billion between 2021 and 2022. Vilakati notes that just 18% of Africa’s annual mitigation needs and 20% of its adaptation needs are funded. Furthermore, he observes that only 18% of total climate finance comes from private sources.
The ACS2 will seek to push for reforms in the global climate finance architecture, advocating for more accessible grant funding and highly concessional financing for adaptation projects.
Ethiopia’s State Minister of Planning and Development, H.E. Seyoum Mekonnen, asserts that the ACS2 is “Africa’s moment to lead” and “our COP”. He emphasizes that Africa is a continent of solutions, not just a victim of climate change. Mekonnen points to Ethiopia’s
Green Legacy Initiative as a prime example of an African-led solution, noting that it has successfully planted over 40 billion seedlings in six years and increased the country’s forest cover to 23.6% by 2023.
He also highlights Ethiopia’s investments in renewable energy, which have strengthened regional power grids , and its emerging leadership in e-mobility. The Green Legacy initiative alone has created approximately 1 million jobs for youth and women.
The summit, which is expected to gather more than 45 African Heads of State , aims to present a unified African voice ahead of major global climate events like COP30. According to Abas Mohammed, Co-chair of the Content and Program Committee of ACS2, a key outcome of the summit will be to elevate homegrown, African-led solutions to a global audience.
Mr. Harsan Nyambe, a Director with the African Union Commission, adds that the event will also see the launch of a new AU project focused on early warning and adaptation systems. These systems are designed to integrate meteorological data, disaster monitoring, and indigenous knowledge to help communities cope with increasingly frequent and severe weather events.
The summit is expected to include more than 45 official events and over 400 side events. Organizers have conducted more than 25 formal consultations with various stakeholders, including AU Member States, UN agencies, development partners, and the private sector.
