Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 11 September 2025 – The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) ended with a powerful message: Africa is stepping into its role as a global leader on climate, determined to shape the world’s green economy rather than be sidelined as a climate casualty. Hosted by Ethiopia in partnership with the African Union, the three-day gathering carried the theme “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.”
One of the most defining moments was the adoption of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action. With it, African leaders signaled unity in scaling up flagship initiatives such as the Great Green Wall, the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative, and Ethiopia’s Green Legacy, all of which are proving that nature-based solutions can secure both livelihoods and ecosystems.
The Summit was also marked by a wave of commitments. The launch of the Africa Climate Innovation Compact and the African Climate Facility, championed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, set an ambitious target: to mobilize $50 billion every year and generate a thousand climate-smart solutions in sectors like energy, water, agriculture, and transport by 2030. This was coupled with a strong demand that climate finance, particularly for adaptation, be treated as an obligation of developed countries, not charity. A key breakthrough came with the operationalization of the African Climate Change Fund, designed to unlock green bonds and financing instruments aligned with Africa’s needs.
International partners also stepped forward. Denmark pledged $79 million to transform agriculture, Italy reaffirmed $4.2 billion through its Climate Fund with most of it dedicated to Africa, while African financial institutions teamed up to raise $100 billion for the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative. Alongside this, the second phase of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP 2.0) was launched, targeting $50 billion to prepare food systems and infrastructure for a warming world.
The scale of participation reflected the urgency. More than 25,000 delegates spanning governments, private sector, civil society, youth, farmers, and indigenous peoples came together for discussions, exhibitions, and side events that showcased innovation and cooperation across the continent.
As the curtains closed, leaders made it clear that ACS2 is not just an event but a steppingstone toward COP30 in Belém, Brazil. With the Addis Ababa Declaration in hand and new financing frameworks on the table, Africa has shown that it is not waiting to be rescued, leading, innovating, and shaping the climate agenda for the world.