African leaders on Monday pledged to provide a global model for tackling the climate crisis through green investments, as the continent held its second climate summit in Ethiopia ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
The continent, which has faced landslides, floods and droughts this year, is seeking a common voice before the global climate talks. The effort comes after the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement deflated international momentum in the fight against climate change.
“We are not here to negotiate our survival. We are here to design the world’s next climate economy,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told the opening ceremony.
Kenyan President William Ruto said Africa’s development lenders and commercial banks had signed a deal at the summit to mobilise up to $100 billion to power a “green industrialisation” using renewable energy. Participating institutions include the Africa Export-Import Bank, the African Development Bank and commercial lenders like Ecobank Transnational and KCB Group, he said.
Abiy proposed a new Africa climate innovation initiative, funded by the continent, bringing together African universities, research institutions, startups, rural communities and inventors to deliver 1,000 solutions to tackle climate challenges by 2030.
“If we make the right choices now, Africa can be the first continent to industrialize without destroying its ecosystems,” Abiy said, adding that he wants Ethiopia to host COP32 in 2027.
At the inaugural summit in Nairobi two years ago, leaders pressed for more international financing, but officials say Africa still receives just 1% of annual global climate funding.
“Climate finance must be fair, significant and predictable,” said Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, chair of the African Union Commission.
Ruto expressed concern about a weakening multilateral approach to climate action after U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration pulled out of the Paris Agreement for the second time and withdrew from clean energy partnerships with countries such as South Africa.
“Commitments are broken and international solidarity is dismissed as weakness precisely when the scale of the climate crisis demands enhanced cooperation, not less,” Ruto said.
