At the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) held in Addis Ababa from 8–10 September 2025, African leaders made a unified statement: Africa is not a passive recipient of climate aid—it is a global hub for climate solutions.
The Addis Ababa Declaration, adopted at the summit’s close, sets out a transformative agenda for climate finance, adaptation, and innovation.
Key Commitments from the Declaration
- $50 Billion Annual Climate Finance Push
Through the Africa Climate Innovation Compact (ACIC) and African Climate Facility (ACF), leaders pledged to mobilise $50 billion annually to scale 1,000 African climate solutions by 2030. These span energy, agriculture, water, transport, and resilience. - Adaptation Finance as Grants, Not Loans
African states demanded that adaptation finance from developed nations be delivered as grants to avoid deepening debt burdens. This marks a shift from charity framing to justice-based climate financing. - Reform of Global Financial Institutions
Heads of State called for urgent reforms to multilateral lenders—lowering borrowing costs and expanding African representation in global financial governance. - Carbon Markets with Integrity
The Africa Action Plan on Carbon Markets (AAPCM) aims to ensure African participation in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, with safeguards, transparency, and community benefit. - Africa Just Resilience Framework (JRF)
Launched alongside the Climate Justice Impact Fund for Africa (CJIFA), which has already disbursed 64 grants across 17 countries, this framework supports grassroots climate initiatives. - Green Minerals Strategy Activation
Leaders committed to leveraging Africa’s critical minerals for both global clean energy supply chains and local industrial growth. - Renewable Energy Equity
Africa’s share of global renewable energy investment—currently just 2%—must rise to at least 20% by 2030. This is vital to close the energy access gap affecting over 600 million Africans. - Climate-Health Financing
Dedicated mechanisms will be established to tackle climate-related health threats, including heatwaves and vector-borne diseases. - Youth and Women-Led Innovation
The AU Climate Action Innovation Hub will spotlight solutions from African youth and women, reinforcing inclusive climate leadership.
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Why It Matters
The Addis Ababa Declaration reframes Africa’s climate narrative—from crisis to opportunity, from investment aid. For East African economies, this means:
- Greater access to catalytic finance for homegrown innovations.
- Stronger bargaining power in global climate negotiations.
- A pathway to industrialise through green minerals and renewable energy.
- Enhanced visibility for youth, women, and community-led climate action.
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