UNFCCC Climate Week 2 and Africa Climate Summit | 2025

"As we approach COP30, Africa stands united on the front line of climate action"

UN Climate Change’s Second Climate Week (CW2) and the Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in Addis Ababa will mobilise governments, businesses, communities and innovators — forging the partnerships needed to turn ambition into delivery. African climate leaders are calling for action on every front: equitable energy transitions, inclusive food systems, resilient cities, nature-positive development, and empowered communities. From cities to savannahs, youth to elders, innovation labs to ancestral knowledge: this is Africa’s moment to shape the transition on its own terms.

"Africa is bringing solutions that work"

For years, climate summits have been dominated by negotiations and promises. But CW2 and ACS2 show a shift: climate leadership is now measured by delivery. Africa is bringing solutions that work — from decentralised solar powering homes, to re-greened landscapes restoring ecosystems, to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) scaling innovations that create jobs and resilience. These solutions are rooted in local realities but are globally relevant. Now, global finance and trade systems must catch up to support them.

"Africa is primed for a green industrial revolution"

With the right investments, Africa can shift from being a supplier of raw materials to a hub of clean-tech manufacturing: renewable energy, e-fuels and chemicals, producing batteries, and green steel. This is not just an opportunity for Africa; it is the foundation of a fairer, more resilient global economy. But it will require a reset: trade rules, finance flows, and technology transfer must work for Africa, unlocking value creation and millions of jobs at home.

"The green transition must also be a jobs transition, which also harnesses the power of small and medium enterprises (SMEs)"

Each year, 12 million young Africans enter the workforce, but only 3 million formal jobs are created. The transition will fail if it does not deliver livelihoods. Today, many young people are being trained for jobs that don’t yet exist, while SMEs (which already provide up to 80% of employment) remain excluded from finance and climate plans. This mismatch risks wasting talent and slowing delivery. The solution is to put SMEs at the center of the transition and align skills systems with enterprise demand. Work-integrated training, modular “earn as you learn” pathways, and policies that open procurement to local businesses can bridge the gap. Africa’s young people are ready to power the green economy, but they need systems that connect their potential to opportunity.

"Adaptation is not optional; it is the frontline of climate justice and economic stability"

Africa contributes less than 4 per cent of emissions but faces the most severe climate risks. Yet it receives only 20 per cent of global adaptation finance. Around USD 300 billion is needed annually for climate adaptation by 2030. Governments will end up paying hundreds of billions more to rebuild after disasters than they would spend to prevent them. Investing in Africa’s resilience is common sense. It protects lives, stabilizes economies, and delivers the climate justice that underpins a fair global transition.