AT least 45 Heads of State are expected to attend the second edition of the Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), scheduled for September 8 to 10 in Addis Ababa.

The summit, convened by the African Union Commission (AUC) and hosted by the host country, served as a platform for African and global leaders to engage in actionable climate dialogue and showcase African-led climate solutions.

According to Mensur Nuri, chairperson of the Communication and Media Committee at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Planning and Development, the summit aims to amplify Africa’s voice in the global climate discourse.

“African solutions should be showcased and recognised internationally,” Nuri said during a briefing. “This summit will build on the successes of the inaugural edition held in Nairobi and solidify Africa’s leadership in climate action.”

The summit will be preceded by a series of pre-summit events from September 5 to 7, designed to pave the way for technical and political engagement across multiple sectors.

The first Africa Climate Summit, held in Nairobi, Kenya from September 4–6, 2023, attracted high-level delegations from across the continent and beyond. Themed “Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World”, the 2023 event concluded with the landmark Nairobi Declaration.

The declaration unified African leaders’ positions on climate action, calling on the global community to urgently reduce emissions and deliver the $100 billion per year in climate finance promised in 2009 during the Copenhagen conference.

Ethiopia will use ACS2 to highlight its flagship Green Legacy Initiative, a large-scale reforestation programme launched in June 2019. The initiative aims to combat the adverse impacts of climate change by restoring degraded landscapes and promoting green jobs.

By 2023, Ethiopia had exceeded its target of planting 20 billion seedlings, with 25 billion trees planted thanks to the mobilisation of over 20 million citizens. The campaign has created over 767,000 green jobs, particularly empowering women and youth.

With over 120,000 nurseries established nationwide, the initiative continues to gain momentum. In 2023 alone, five million indigenous seedlings were planted, with plans to plant an additional 600 million in 2024.

As the world grapples with intensifying climate challenges, ACS2 is expected to reinforce Africa’s demand for fair climate financing, equitable partnerships, and recognition of its nature-based solutions. The summit will also evaluate progress made since the Nairobi Declaration and explore new pathways to climate-resilient development.

The high-level gathering reaffirms Africa’s commitment to shaping a unified climate agenda, demonstrating that the continent is not just vulnerable to climate change—but is also a source of solutions for the world.