African leaders have signalled their intention to position the continent as a model for climate action through sustained green investment, following the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, a move that has cast uncertainty over global climate cooperation.
Meeting in Ethiopia at the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), heads of state and policymakers emphasised that Africa would not adopt a passive stance in the global energy transition but instead propose a pragmatic, solutions-based pathway. The continent has faced escalating climate-induced challenges in recent years, including floods, droughts, and landslides, that have heightened the urgency of coordinated responses.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed underscored the imperative for Africa to design its own climate economy, remarking: “We are not here to negotiate our survival. We are here to design the world’s next climate economy.” He outlined a proposal for an Africa-led climate innovation initiative, drawing upon the expertise of universities, research institutions, community innovators, and the private sector to generate 1,000 solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation by 2030. Ethiopia has also expressed interest in hosting COP32 in 2027, reinforcing its ambition to be a key convenor in global climate governance.
The summit comes amid renewed calls for equitable climate finance. Despite Africa being one of the least contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, it remains disproportionately affected by their consequences. According to official estimates, the continent receives just 1% of annual global climate financing, far short of the resources required to support sustainable development and resilience-building projects.
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, chair of the African Union Commission, called for climate finance to be “fair, significant and predictable,” highlighting the need to address vulnerabilities created by climate change, structural inequities in the global financial system, and the mounting debt burdens faced by many African states.
Kenyan President William Ruto, reflecting on the broader international landscape, expressed concern over waning multilateralism, warning that a weakening of global solidarity risks undermining the scale of cooperation required to confront the climate emergency.
The United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the second under President Donald Trump’s administration, has been viewed by African leaders as emblematic of the fragility of international commitments. The US has also suspended several clean energy partnerships, including with South Africa, raising questions about the reliability of bilateral and multilateral agreements in addressing the crisis.
Nevertheless, leaders at the Addis Ababa summit stressed that Africa’s future lies not in dependency but in self-determination. With vast renewable energy potential, significant deposits of critical minerals, and untapped agricultural innovation, Africa is positioning itself to industrialise along pathways that preserve ecosystems while creating sustainable prosperity.
The summit outcomes will serve as Africa’s consolidated position ahead of COP30 in Brazil, where climate finance, adaptation, and just transitions are expected to dominate negotiations.
