Africa: From Activism to Action – Africa Climate Summit to Advance Continental Solutions

Africa: From Activism to Action – Africa Climate Summit to Advance Continental Solutions


Climate change is eroding Africa’s GDP growth by 5-15 percent annually, according to an African Development Bank report. To address this challenge, some 25,000 participants are expected to attend the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), set to be held in Addis Ababa during just over a week.

Ethiopia is preparing not only to host the summit but also to play a leadership role in moving climate activism into concrete action, as the continent finds itself at the center of the global climate debate.

The summit aims to chart continental solutions to the escalating crisis. African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, alongside other African leaders, stressed the critical importance of a unified African voice to secure climate justice, mobilize finance for adaptation and mitigation, and push for developed nations to fulfill their climate commitments.

Planning and Development Minister Fitsum Assefa (PhD), in a commentary published by Project Syndicate, underlined that “the climate crisis presents enormous opportunities.” In her article, ‘Africa’s Green Economy is a Good Investment’, she argued that while the continent is highly vulnerable, it is also uniquely positioned for climate solutions, with vast renewable resources, rich biodiversity, a youthful population, and a pipeline of bankable green projects.


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She emphasized that investors should be “clamoring to seize these opportunities, beginning at the upcoming Africa Climate Summit.” Fitsum noted that the ACS2 represents a declaration of intent and a potential turning point for Africa to unleash high-return investments while shaping the global climate agenda.

Despite holding 60 percent of the world’s best solar resources, Africa contributes only 1 percent of installed solar capacity and attracts just 3 percent of global energy investment. This gap, Fitsum said, highlights structural inequities in the climate debate.

Examples across the continent show that progress is possible with the right mix of finance and political will. Ethiopia’s national grid, largely powered by renewable, has already positioned the country as a regional energy exporter. The Abbay Dam (Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam) has reached 2,350 megawatts and is set to expand to 5,150 megawatts when fully operational.

In Gambia, the Jambur Solar Power Station, backed by a 165 million USD blended-finance package, is providing clean power to thousands of households while creating over a thousand jobs. In South Africa, the Impofu Wind Complex supports industrial decarbonization, while Kenya’s solar-powered green-ammonia production is lowering emissions and enhancing food security.