The Africa Climate Summit 2 (ACS2), hosted by Ethiopia from September 8-10, aims to unify African leadership around climate solutions, enhance climate finance, and promote sustainable development and resilience.

A primary goal of ACS2 is to develop a unified African stance for COP30, foster new partnerships, and make commitments toward climate resilience and green growth, with a focus on empowering youth, indigenous groups, and local communities.

Key messages emphasize the importance of accelerating ambition and implementation at COP30, ensuring African leadership in climate finance and translating commitments into tangible actions to support Africa’s climate resilience and renewable energy potential.

Africa is positioning itself as a key player in global climate leadership through upcoming major events: the UNFCCC Climate Week 2 and the Africa Climate Summit 2025, both held in Addis Ababa from September 1-10, 2025.

ACS2 seeks to shift Africa's narrative from vulnerability to opportunity, positioning the continent as a leader in renewable energy, carbon sequestration, and community resilience, while advocating for equitable climate financing and reform of the global financial architecture.

The summit will feature discussions on early warning systems, climate services, innovation, private sector engagement, and pathways for a just transition to low-carbon growth.

Climate change is severely impacting Africa’s ecosystems, with coral bleaching, declines in phytoplankton, droughts, and habitat loss threatening wildlife such as elephants and rhinos, alongside serious biodiversity risks including over 11.6% of species at risk of extinction.

Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change, experiencing faster warming than the global average, which leads to climate-related disasters, water stress affecting over 250 million people, and declining agricultural productivity.

Ethiopia has demonstrated its commitment to climate action by hosting numerous international conferences and planting over 700 million trees in a single day, emphasizing green growth and a green economy.

Ethiopia aims to showcase its climate mitigation achievements and efforts toward a carbon-free economy by 2030, positioning itself as a leader in renewable energy and green policies.

Organizations like E3G are actively involved in both CW2 and ACS2, hosting dialogues to strengthen climate governance, energy transition, and finance mechanisms through partnerships such as the International Climate Councils Network.

Summit themes include climate finance, nature-based solutions, renewable energy, green cities, e-mobility, indigenous knowledge, and innovative climate adaptation strategies.

International leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and presidents from Kenya, Angola, and DRC, are participating in efforts to mobilize multi-billion-dollar projects and advance climate initiatives.