Press Briefing on the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS-2)
16 June 2025
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

• Honorable Minister, Dr. Fitsum Assefa,
• Honorable State Minister, Mr. Seyoum Mekonen,
• Excellency Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of the Member States of the African Union,
• Excellencies Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of the Partner Countries of the African Union,
• Distinguished Guests,
• Members of the Press,
• Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. I would like to begin my address by recognizing the remarkable leadership and dedication of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, our host country for this year’s second Africa Climate Summit (ACS-2).

2. I would also like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Honorable Minister, H.E. Dr. Fitsum Assefa, along with his talented team, for their unwavering commitment and hard work throughout the extensive preparations for this important Summit, along with our dedicated team from the African Union Commission.

3. The event for which we are gathered here today is an African Union event, which involves all our member states.

4. As such, the African union Commission as the Secretariat for the African Union holds the responsibility of organizing the event with the support of the host government.

5. The first edition was hosted by the Republic of Kenya and the second edition will be hosted by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

6. Next time we shall be organizing it again in one of our member states as the hosting is to be rotational and ideally by region.

Excellencies and Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

7. Africa stands as the continent most severely affected by the repercussions of climate change, particularly under scenarios where global temperatures exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius.

8. Although Africa contributes a mere 4% to the global greenhouse gas emissions, it is grappling with the severe consequences of climate change, which manifest in a multitude of ways.

9. The continent faces unprecedented collateral damage that threatens its fragile economies and undermines critical infrastructure investments.

10. Key systems such as access to clean water and food security are under immense stress, leading to cascading effects on public health and agricultural sustainability.

11. As changing weather patterns disrupt farming practices, the risk of crop failures and food shortages looms ever larger, exacerbating the challenges faced by already vulnerable communities.

12. This perilous situation not only compromises the health and well-being of millions but also endangers the modest developmental achievements that Africa has made over the years.

13. If these issues remain unaddressed, they could plunge the continent into deeper levels of extreme poverty, reversing progress on numerous social and economic fronts.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

14. It is important to recognize that climate finance flowing into Africa has fallen far short of what is needed. Most of this funding has come in the form of concessional loans.

15. Conservative estimates indicate that African nations require around US$250 billion each year in both conditional and unconditional financing between 2020 and 2030 to fulfill their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) as set out in the Paris Climate Agreement.

16. In stark contrast, the reported annual climate finance inflows to the continent total just US$30 billion, accounting for a mere 12% of the estimated funding needed each year.

Excellencies and Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

17. It is against this backdrop that this year's Summit, which will take place from 8-10 September 2025, with other Pre-Summit events, is titled ‘Accelerating Global Climate Solutions and Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.

18. The summit focuses on the urgent need for African nations to tap into groundbreaking climate financing approaches.

19. These strategies are essential for effectively tackling the multifaceted impacts of climate change that disproportionately affect the continent.

20. The Summit aims to foster dialogue among leaders, policymakers, state and non-state actors, and financial institutions to explore innovative funding mechanisms and partnerships.

21. The urgent need for global cooperation has never been clearer, as Africa strives to combat these challenges while advocating for equitable action against climate change.

22. I therefore call upon our partners to support this life changing event.

23. In the same vein, I invite African Union Member States and partners to champion a climate-resilient and green development agenda for the continent, present transformative partnership opportunities, and attract new finance and investment during the summit and beyond.

24. The Summit's outcomes will serve both Africa's and the world's ambitions for climate action and provide a critical background for negotiations as we approach UNFCCC-COP30 in Belem, Brazil, later this year.

25. Thank you for your kind attention.