Achievement at Africa Climate Summit 2: Expected Outcomes

The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) is set to take place in Addis Ababa on September 8, 2025, with high expectations of positioning Africa as a unified force in global climate discussions. Co-hosted by the Ethiopian government and the African Union Commission, the summit aims to set Africa's agenda across three priorities: climate finance, adaptation, and green industrialization.

The Addis Ababa Declaration, expected to be adopted at the summit, is intended to transform Africa's renewable energy potential, critical mineral reserves, and youthful population into assets for the world's transition away from fossil fuels. Ethiopian officials view hosting the summit as an opportunity to pivot Africa's story, emphasizing that Africa is a provider of global climate solutions.

Africa, home to 30% of the world's mineral reserves, is uniquely positioned to shape global decarbonization via production of batteries, electric vehicles, solar panels, and other products. The Least Developed Countries (LDC) group, chaired by Malawi's Evans Njewa, expects Africa to rally behind a unified position on adaptation. The LDCs also want Africa to develop and adopt robust adaptation indicators for global monitoring and accountability.

The summit comes after the Nairobi Declaration, which proposed new global taxes to fund climate action and measures to help indebted countries avoid default. However, the implementation of these proposals is still awaiting meaningful progress. Njenga Hakeenah, climate editor at the China Global South Project, expressed hope that Ethiopia would deliver tangible results at ACS2, unlike the shortcomings of the Nairobi summit.

President Ruto of Kenya, who will co-chair several sessions in Addis, believes that Africa's economic future lies in "climate-positive growth." The Addis summit must build on the Nairobi narrative. Iskander Erzini Vernoit, director of the Imal Initiative for Climate and Development, stated that Africa's message to the world should be clear: Africa will continue to lead the global push for a fairer international financial architecture.

African countries need an estimated USD 2.8 trillion between 2020 and 2030 to meet their climate pledges, including USD 579 billion for adaptation alone. Wanjira Mathai, managing director for Africa and global partnerships at the World Resources Institute, wants Africa to showcase homegrown solutions, drive bold commitments, and unlock new investment pathways.

Saliem Fakir, executive director of the African Climate Foundation, stated that ACS2 will serve as a platform for African nations to harmonize their political stances on climate change and bolster Africa's leadership in global climate governance. Hakeenah suggested a possible outcome worth watching is a commitment to adopt a Global Climate Finance Charter by 2025, though it is not currently on the formal agenda for ACS2.

The presence of the UN secretary-general, António Guterres, Barbados's prime minister, Mia Mottley, and several African leaders cements the summit as a staging ground for COP30. ACS2 could position Africa as a global solutions powerhouse, not as a climate victim. The majority of "transition" minerals in Africa are directly exported rather than processed locally, suggesting opportunities for value addition and job creation.

However, the LDCs urge major emitters to submit more ambitious climate action plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). There is no specific information available about which African states voted in majority for the adoption of a Global Climate Finance Charter at the African Climate Summit 2025. The Addis declaration is expected to call for faster disbursement, lower transaction costs, and climate finance solutions that center women, youth, and children.

In conclusion, the Second Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa promises to be a significant event in Africa's quest for a sustainable future. The summit aims to leverage Africa's unique position in global decarbonization efforts, address financing challenges, and bolster Africa's leadership in global climate governance. The outcomes of the summit could have far-reaching implications for Africa's role in shaping the global response to climate change.