Second Africa Climate Summit: Africa Asserts Diplomatic Leadership on Climate Action

The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), scheduled from 8 to 10 September 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is shaping up not only as a major climate event but also as a robust exercise in African diplomacy and international leadership.

Africa Takes the Lead – Diplomatically and Strategically

Hosted jointly by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Union Commission (AUC), ACS2 builds on the momentum of the inaugural Nairobi Summit of 2023, positioning Africa as a central actor in the global fight against climate change. The theme—“Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development”—underscores the strategic intention to shift from rhetoric to accountability, outcomes, and tangible solutions led by Africans on African terms.

With the summit strategically situated between COP30, the G20 in Johannesburg, and the UN General Assembly, African leaders gain a critical platform to shape upcoming international climate dialogues and finance frameworks.

Diplomacy at Work: Mobilizing Heads of State and International Actors

Officials from Ethiopia and the AUC have conducted targeted briefings with diplomats, ministries, UN agencies, philanthropic foundations, and civil society networks in the weeks leading up to ACS2. These meetings are designed to build alignment and ensure strong diplomatic support across the continent and beyond.

More than 45 African Heads of State and Government are expected to attend, signaling the summit’s high-level diplomatic significance. Hundreds of side-event proposals and over 50% of pavilion space at the venue have already been booked, demonstrating strong engagement from both state and non-state stakeholders.

Climate Finance Diplomacy: A Core Agenda Item

A central diplomatic thrust of ACS2 is to bridge the continent’s massive climate finance gap—estimated at US$3 trillion—with funding received so far falling far short at just US$30 billion between 2021 and 2022. The message from African leaders is clear: no more pledges, real delivery. The summit aims to mobilize equitable finance from both public and private partners to support Africa’s resilience, adaptation, mitigation, and clean energy goals.

Africa as a Solutions Provider, Not a Victim

African diplomats and leaders emphasize that the continent—despite contributing less than 4% of global emissions—is no longer content to be framed as a passive victim. Instead, ACS2 is Africa’s moment to showcase homegrown climate solutions, including nature-based initiatives, solar energy, climate-smart agriculture, early warning systems, youth-driven innovations, and blue economy projects.

Diplomacy at the Continental Crossroads

The summit marks an opportunity to link ACS2 outcomes with major international and regional engagements later this year, reinforcing the narrative of Africa as a proactive climate actor. Against a backdrop of shifting geopolitics and concerns of climate finance shortfalls, African negotiators are preparing a unified stance to demand fair and actionable commitments from the global system.

Summit Structure: Diplomacy Meets Inclusion

The summit agenda is deliberately inclusive: high-level plenaries, ministerial roundtables, exhibitions, regional pavilions, youth forums, and partner side-events will cover nature-based solutions, adaptation, resilience, climate finance, innovation, trade, and just transitions. ACS2 aims to elevate marginalized voices—including youth, indigenous peoples, and civil society—ensuring diplomatic inclusion across all levels of the decision-making process.

A Diplomatic Win for Agenda 2063

ACS2 aligns closely with Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, the African Union’s long-term vision for inclusive development, sustainable economies, and continental unity. It refocuses global climate priorities on African leadership and equitable implementation.

A Diplomatic Turning Point

As world climate negotiations unfold, ACS2 offers Africa a diplomatic pivot point: from inequality and underrepresentation to agency and co-ownership of the climate agenda. It underscores a continent that not only bears the brunt of climate change but also offers scalable, locally driven solutions—and insists the global system delivers on its financial and partnership promises.

This summit is more than a conference: it is Africa’s diplomatic assertion, shaping its future and the global climate future in one decisive moment.

Key Information Recap