The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) opened on Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with continental leaders, innovators, and civil society groups setting Africa’s climate agenda ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
Hosted at the Addis International Convention Centre (AICC), the summit’s opening ceremony was headlined by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, who showcased Ethiopia’s Green Legacy initiative and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as examples of Africa-led climate solutions.
Abiy also formally declared Ethiopia’s bid to host COP32 in 2027 and unveiled the Africa Climate Innovation Compact, a bold plan to support 1,000 African innovators by 2030, financed by Africans but supported by global partners.
“As COP30 approaches, Africa must present itself not just as negotiators but as a continent of solutions. We call for real investment, not charity,” he declared.
Kenya’s President William Ruto, host of the maiden summit in Nairobi in 2023, cautioned against fragmented action in the face of worsening climate shocks. He called for regional solidarity and global collaboration, stressing that Africa cannot afford to be sidelined in shaping climate solutions.
For Nigeria, the delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals, Engineer Faruk Yusuf Yabo, alongside the newly appointed Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mrs. Omotenioye Majekodunmi.
However, Nigeria’s low-profile delegation has renewed calls for stronger climate diplomacy from Africa’s largest economy, given its deep vulnerabilities to floods, desertification, and energy transition challenges.
Youth advocate Abraham Hassan expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s diminished presence. He argued that while Ethiopia and Kenya showcased their leaders on the summit’s opening stage, Nigeria’s delegation fell far short.
“If we aim to host COP32, shouldn’t Nigeria’s President or at least the Vice President be present in Addis to lobby world leaders directly? A Permanent Secretary simply delivering a speech cannot substitute for leadership at that level,” Hassan remarked.
Similarly, ecofeminist climate campaigner Adenike Oladosu warned that Nigeria’s weak delegation erodes its credibility and bargaining power at a time when global climate attention is focused on Africa.
“When Nigeria fails to send senior leadership, it sends a dangerous message: we’re not serious about climate diplomacy. Fellow African states are stepping up; we risk being sidelined when decisions are made,” Oladosu stated.
Their criticism echoes a call for a stronger presence and strategic diplomacy, especially with Ethiopia unveiling its bid to host COP32 in 2027 and launching the continent-wide Climate Innovation Compact, which promises to nurture 1,000 African innovators by 2030.
The summit, themed “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development,” runs from 8–10 September 2025 and is jointly organised by Ethiopia and the African Union Commission (AUC). It is expected to adopt the Addis Ababa Declaration, release flagship climate reports, and catalyze billions of dollars in green finance commitments.
Day one spotlighted nature-based solutions, renewable energy expansion, resilient infrastructure, and technology-driven innovations to strengthen Africa’s climate resilience.
As the summit progresses, analysts say Africa is positioning itself not as a passive victim of climate change but as a continent of solutions, even as Nigeria faces growing pressure to match words with action in climate leadership.
By Dare Akogun, Addis Ababa
