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Addis Ababa – As the second Africa Climate Summit convenes in Addis Ababa, ActionAid International has called on African leaders to prioritize a just and sustainable transition away from fossil fuels and industrial agriculture while rejecting what it described as “false solutions” to the climate crisis.
The organization said the summit must focus on the rights of communities most affected by climate change, including women, indigenous peoples, young people, workers, and climate-vulnerable groups.
“Africa continues to bear the brunt of the climate crisis. The time has come to demand a just transition from fossil fuels and industrial agriculture,” said Emmaqulate Kemunto, Africa Regional Campaigner at ActionAid International. “We need Africa’s heads of state and policymakers to ensure that the deals and commitments made deliver a just transition for Africa, by Africa.”
ActionAid said climate change is also a debt and human rights crisis on the continent, and warned against relying on finance mechanisms and solutions that deepen inequalities. Nigus Simane, Country Director of ActionAid Ethiopia, added: “The time has come for Africa to show leadership and forge a new pathway to address the climate crisis based on the principles of justice, inclusion, and equity.”
The organization outlined four key demands for the summit. First, it called for climate finance that supports a just transition, stressing that funds must come in the form of grants rather than loans, alongside efforts to curb tax dodging, illicit financial flows, and unfair debt.
Second, ActionAid said the transition must be led by Africa, warning against measures that deepen poverty or inequality and insisting that vulnerable groups be placed at the centre of decision-making.
Third, the group pressed governments to invest more public funds in agroecology and community-driven solutions to strengthen sustainable farming and local climate action.
The Africa Climate Summit (ACS) is a continental platform convened by the African Union and host governments to shape Africa’s collective response to climate change. It brings together leaders, civil society, businesses, and youth to press for climate justice, financing, and African-led solutions.
The first summit, held in Nairobi in September 2023, produced the Nairobi Declaration, which called for reform of global financial systems, scaled-up renewable energy, and greater climate finance.
The second summit, which took place in Addis Ababa from 8–10 September 2025, builds on this momentum under the theme “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.” It focuses on financing, adaptation, loss and damage, and community-led solutions, while positioning Africa as both vulnerable to climate impacts and a leader in green innovation.
The summit matters because Africa contributes little to global emissions yet suffers disproportionately from climate impacts, making it crucial for African nations to push for fair financing, stronger global commitments, and a unified continental voice in international climate negotiations.
