African Progress Highlights: Results from the Second Africa Climate Summit and Climate Week 2025
In a significant stride towards a sustainable future, African leaders have agreed to fully integrate adaptation into national development strategies, prioritising country needs and people-centric approaches. This decision was made as part of the continent's ambitious goal to expand its renewable energy capacity from 56 GW to an impressive 300 GW by 2030.
Delivering a credible pipeline of opportunities and innovative derisking and guarantee mechanisms is crucial for attracting the necessary capital for Africa's green transition. The Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) has proven useful in this regard, providing speed and scale to countries seeking funding.
However, the Africa Clean Energy Corridor needs to become more effective to meet these ambitious targets. The continent added just 4 GW of renewables capacity in 2024, underscoring the need to increase energy finance from the current 2% to a significant 20% by 2030.
In an effort to address this gap, initiatives like the Africa Climate Innovation Compact and the launch of the Flagship Report on African Climate Initiatives have been introduced. Climate Finance Units (CFUs) in countries such as Uganda and Rwanda have been established to mobilise and manage funds effectively.
Africa's commitment to a green future is further evidenced by its hosting of the UNFCCC's second 2025 regional Climate Week (CW2) and Africa Climate Summit 2 (ACS2) in Ethiopia. Ethiopia, in particular, has made notable strides, announcing its bid to host COP 32 in 2027 and publishing its new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), committing to a conditional 70.3% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared to business-as-usual (BAU).
Recognising the importance of fair and predictable financing, the Addis Ababa Declaration was adopted, demanding strong unified signals from the continent that adaptation is a priority. A Model Climate Change Law has also been developed by the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES) to help countries without climate change Acts strengthen their national governance frameworks.
The continent is also addressing the need for adaptation finance, which currently stands at USD 53 billion annually but has only received USD 13 billion in 2021-2022. A coalition of African mineral-producing countries has been formed to ensure extractive industries lead to inclusive growth, local value addition, and a just energy transition.
Lastly, the Energy for a Green and Just Transition (ENGAGE) is a €16.5 million Germany-African Union partnership aimed at strengthening regulatory frameworks and capacity. These initiatives aim to elevate Africa's climate leadership voice on the global stage and place Africa's climate needs and contributions at the forefront.
As the world looks towards a sustainable future, Africa's commitment to the green transition and its efforts to secure funding and effective governance are noteworthy. The upcoming summits in Ethiopia promise to further solidify Africa's role as a leader in climate action.
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