The most recent African Climate Summit (ACS2) concluded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a unified position and a clear mandate for the continent to present at the upcoming COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil. Rather than simply being a victim of climate change, Africa is positioning itself as a proactive leader in a new global green economy. The summit’s resolution, articulated in the Addis Ababa Declaration, centres on three key pillars: a demand for a fundamental reform of the global climate finance architecture, a focus on Africa’s immense potential for renewable energy and green industrialisation, and a strong emphasis on adaptation and resilience. This marks a significant shift from previous summits and lays the groundwork for a more equitable and self-reliant climate future for the continent.
A New Narrative: From Victim to Visionary
For years, Africa’s role in global climate discussions has been largely defined by its vulnerability. While it contributes less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the continent disproportionately bears the brunt of climate change impacts, including droughts, floods, and food insecurity. The inaugural African Climate Summit in Nairobi in 2023 began to shift this narrative, and the second summit in Addis Ababa solidified it. The resolution rejects the traditional paradigm of seeking aid and instead advocates for strategic investment and a partnership-based approach. African leaders are no longer asking for charity; they are demanding a fair financial system that recognises the continent’s potential as a source of climate solutions. This includes leveraging its vast renewable energy resources, its critical minerals for the green transition, and its carbon-absorbing ecosystems.
The Urgency of Climate Finance Reform
The central pillar of the Addis Ababa Declaration is the call to reform the global financial system. African leaders have long argued that the current architecture, including multilateral development banks and sovereign debt structures, is ill-equipped to meet the continent’s climate needs. High borrowing costs, risk premiums, and a lack of access to concessional and grant-based finance hinder climate action and crowd out essential social investments. The ACS2 resolution tackles this head-on, urging for a new financial deal.
Key demands include:
Scaling Up Grant-Based Finance: The resolution emphasises the need for a significant increase in non-debt-creating finance to fund critical adaptation projects.
Reforming Debt Structures: It calls for mechanisms that address Africa’s debt burden, freeing up fiscal space for climate-resilient development.
Innovative Financing Mechanisms: The summit saw the proposal and launch of several African-led financial initiatives, such as the Africa Climate Innovation Compact and the Africa Climate Facility, which aim to mobilise billions of dollars in catalytic finance. This shows a commitment to “Africa funding Africa” and taking ownership of its own climate solutions.
Operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund: The declaration also stresses the need for the full and swift operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund, ensuring that countries most affected by climate change receive the necessary financial support.
This unified position on finance is a powerful tool for African negotiators at COP30. By presenting a clear, well-defined set of demands, they can push for concrete outcomes rather than symbolic gestures.
The Path to Green Industrialisation and Renewable Energy
The ACS2 resolution places a strong emphasis on Africa’s potential to become a global powerhouse for renewable energy. The continent has an abundance of solar, wind, and geothermal resources, which, if harnessed effectively, could not only provide energy access to the more than 600 million people without it but also serve as a clean energy export hub. The summit’s commitment to generating 300 GW of renewable energy by 2030 is a bold target and a cornerstone of Africa’s green industrialisation strategy.
This is a two-pronged approach:
Energy Access and Economic Growth: Expanding renewable energy is seen as a vehicle for inclusive growth, creating jobs, and powering a new generation of green industries.
Global Decarbonization: By developing its renewable energy sector, Africa can contribute significantly to global decarbonization efforts, strengthening its negotiating position and demonstrating its role as a key partner in the global climate fight.
The resolution also highlights the importance of the Africa Green Minerals Strategy and the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII), which aim to leverage the continent’s mineral wealth—essential for batteries and renewable technologies—to drive sustainable economic development and create value chains within Africa itself. This is a rejection of the traditional extractive model and a step towards a more equitable and prosperous future.
Prioritising Adaptation and Resilience
While global climate discussions often focus on mitigation (reducing emissions), the ACS2 resolution rightly highlights that for Africa, adaptation and resilience are non-negotiable priorities. The continent is already grappling with the devastating impacts of climate change, and communities need urgent support to cope and build resilience. The declaration calls for increased investment in climate-smart agriculture, water security, and resilient infrastructure.
This focus is not just about survival; it’s about sustainable development. By investing in adaptation, Africa can protect its food systems, secure its water resources, and safeguard its economies from future shocks. This theme will be crucial at COP30, where African nations will push for a more balanced approach to climate finance that allocates a greater share to adaptation, as currently, a vast majority of climate finance flows to mitigation projects.
The Road to COP30
The Addis Ababa Declaration serves as Africa’s common position for COP30. It provides a unified, coherent, and ambitious agenda that challenges the status quo and presents Africa not as a problem to be solved but as a partner in a global solution. The summit’s success lies in its ability to reframe the debate around climate action in Africa, moving it from one of dependency to one of agency.
For the continent to succeed at COP30, it must maintain this unity and push its demands with a strong, collective voice. The declaration’s focus on tangible, African-led initiatives, coupled with its call for systemic financial reform, gives it the credibility and moral authority to lead in the global climate arena. The road ahead is challenging, but with this clear roadmap, Africa is better prepared than ever to shape its own climate destiny and contribute to a more just and sustainable world.