African Leaders Reject Victim Role, Pledge Billions For Climate Action

African leaders pledged billions and launched continent-wide climate initiatives in Addis Ababa this week, positioning Africa not as a victim of climate change, but as a driver of the next global green economy ahead of COP30 in Brazil.

The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), co-hosted by the African Union Commission and the Government of Ethiopia, drew over 25,000 participants, including heads of state, policymakers, private sector representatives, civil society, and youth leaders.

The summit marked a shift from declarations of intent to actionable commitments, with African leaders adopting the Addis Ababa Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action. The declaration calls for USD 1.3 trillion in global climate finance by 2030, prioritizing grants over loans to avoid worsening Africa’s debt burden.

Under Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s leadership, the summit launched the Africa Climate Innovation Compact (ACIC) and the African Climate Facility (ACF), designed to mobilize USD 50 billion annually to accelerate African-led innovations in energy, agriculture, transport, water, and resilient infrastructure. The compact aims to deliver 1,000 African-led climate solutions by 2030.

Prime Minister Abiy said: “The story of Africa at climate summits often begins with what we lack. But we are endowed with creativity, innovation, and natural resources. We are not here to negotiate our survival; we’re here to design the world’s next climate economy.”

African leaders also pledged support for green industrialization through the USD 100 billion Africa Green Industrialization Initiative (AGII), mobilized by regional financial institutions including AfDB, Afreximbank, Africa50, and AFC, targeting renewable-powered industries, value chains, e-mobility, and clean cooking solutions.

Kenyan President William Ruto said: “Africa is taking bold approaches to climate action by adopting climate-positive growth, positioning the continent as a source of solutions rather than a victim.”

International partners contributed billions more. The EU, Italy, Denmark, and multilateral banks pledged funding for adaptation, renewable energy, and agricultural transformation. Denmark committed USD 79 million to agricultural transformation, while Italy reaffirmed its USD 4.2 billion pledge to the Italian Climate Fund, with about 70 percent allocated to Africa. Technical assistance agreements with Ethiopia’s Zemen, Dashen, and Hibret banks aim to support 100 billion euros in investment by 2027.

ACS2 also advanced Africa’s clean energy access agenda, including the Mission 300 Agenda and Clean Cooking Initiative, aiming to provide modern energy to 300 million Africans and clean cooking solutions to 900 million by 2035. Leaders also called for Africa’s share of global renewable energy investment to rise from two percent today to at least 20 percent by 2030.