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Africa Climate Summit 2 poster
By Farhiya Farah
![[TrendyMediaToday.com] OPINION: Road to Addis Ababa, Africa Climate Summit II {file_size} {filename}](https://assets.citizen.digital/158026/conversions/farhiya-og_image.webp "[TrendyMediaToday.com] OPINION: Road to Addis Ababa, Africa Climate Summit II {file_size} {filename}")
Ms. Farhiya Farah
The Africa Climate Summit I (ACS I), held in Nairobi from 4β6 September 2023, was positioned as Africaβs moment to reclaim its influence in global climate diplomacy.
Building on the outcomes of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Nairobi Summit centred on climate finance, locally led solutions, nature-based approaches, and green energy.
The resulting Nairobi Declaration mapped out policy and financing pathways for a unified African position, called for reforms to global financial systems, and tasked the African Union Commission (AUC) with developing an implementation framework.
While institutionalising ACS as a biennial AU process was a breakthrough, critics, including the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), argued that the Declaration fell short by failing to consolidate political will and adequately centre frontline communities.
Concerns included underfunding, overreliance on carbon markets, and limited inclusion of civil society and Indigenous peoples.
Gaps identified after Nairobi
Despite significant pledges (USD 26 billion), the Nairobi Summit revealed three key gaps:
Despite the shortcomings, four areas of progress have emerged:
ACS II in Addis Ababa (2025) β Expectations
The upcoming ACS II (September 8β10, 2025) in Addis Ababa is expected to consolidate Nairobiβs gains ahead of COP30 in BelΓ©m, Brazil. It faces heightened pressure to demonstrate delivery, especially in finance, nature protection, and fair transition planning before updated NDCs in 2025/26.
Key Proposals for Addis Ababa
Broader Implications for African Climate Advocacy
The biennial ACS process gives Africa 18β24 months to design projects, adjust enabling frameworks (procurement, tariffs, safeguards), and then check progress. To ensure credibility and inclusivity, Addis Ababa must:
Conclusion
The Nairobi Summit raised ambition but left gaps in finance, unity, and inclusivity. Addis Ababa must move from promises to delivery, with measurable outputs such as megawatts on the grid, households accessing clean cooking, finance disbursed on time, and community-benefiting carbon deals.
Nairobi promised; Addis must deliver.
Ms. Farhiya Farah is an Independent Consultant focused on Climate Action. She is also the CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Story Africa.
Β©Citizen Digital, Kenya
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- The Nairobi Summit raised ambition but left gaps in finance, unity, and inclusivity. Addis Ababa must move from promises to delivery, with measurable outputs such as megawatts on the grid, households accessing clean cooking, finance disbursed on time, and community-benefiting carbon deals.
Africa Climate Summit 2 poster
By Farhiya Farah
Ms. Farhiya Farah
The Africa Climate Summit I (ACS I), held in Nairobi from 4β6 September 2023, was positioned as Africaβs moment to reclaim its influence in global climate diplomacy.
Building on the outcomes of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Nairobi Summit centred on climate finance, locally led solutions, nature-based approaches, and green energy.
The resulting Nairobi Declaration mapped out policy and financing pathways for a unified African position, called for reforms to global financial systems, and tasked the African Union Commission (AUC) with developing an implementation framework.
While institutionalising ACS as a biennial AU process was a breakthrough, critics, including the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), argued that the Declaration fell short by failing to consolidate political will and adequately centre frontline communities.
Concerns included underfunding, overreliance on carbon markets, and limited inclusion of civil society and Indigenous peoples.
Gaps identified after Nairobi
Despite significant pledges (USD 26 billion), the Nairobi Summit revealed three key gaps:
- Insufficient finance: Funding fell far short of the promised USD 100 billion annually. Adaptation remained underfunded, and access to finance was often slow, complex, and costly.
- Division among African states: Some countries advocated for continued fossil fuel use and reliance on carbon markets, while others pushed for a cleaner, faster energy transition.
- Weak inclusion: Civil society, Indigenous communities, and local actors felt sidelined, undermining legitimacy.
- Progress Since Nairobi.
Despite the shortcomings, four areas of progress have emerged:
- Loss and Damage Fund: Established at COP28, hosted by the World Bank, with initial pledges to support water, health, and early warning systems.
- Mission 300: A World Bank Group and AfDB initiative to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, with new financial backers. However, clean cooking remains underfunded.
- Carbon Market Infrastructure: The AfDB launched an Africa Carbon Credit Support Facility to help countries establish MRV systems and ensure high-integrity credits.
- AU Cadence: The ACS was institutionalised as a biennial AU event, and Kenya has advanced implementation through regulatory and policy frameworks β including the Climate Change (Carbon Markets) Regulations 2024, a National Cooking Transition Strategy (2024β2028), geothermal projects, and a Green Hydrogen Strategy.
ACS II in Addis Ababa (2025) β Expectations
The upcoming ACS II (September 8β10, 2025) in Addis Ababa is expected to consolidate Nairobiβs gains ahead of COP30 in BelΓ©m, Brazil. It faces heightened pressure to demonstrate delivery, especially in finance, nature protection, and fair transition planning before updated NDCs in 2025/26.
Key Proposals for Addis Ababa
- AU Delivery Scoreboard: A quarterly, public βreport cardβ showing progress on energy, cooking, finance disbursement, carbon market deals, and safeguards.
- Finance Architecture Reform: Channel at least USD 100 billion in Special Drawing Rights through AfDB, set MDB lending stretch targets, add climate βdebt-pauseβ clauses, and publish clear timelines.
- Energy & Grids Roadmap: Reaffirm the 300 GW renewable energy by 2030 goal with detailed cross-border corridor and storage plans.
- Article 6 Starter-Kit: Develop standard AU-wide templates and safeguards for carbon trading, ensuring integrity and benefit-sharing for communities.
- Trade & Compliance Facility: Help African exporters adapt to the EUβs CBAM and EUDR rules and develop Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and green shipping corridors.
Broader Implications for African Climate Advocacy
The biennial ACS process gives Africa 18β24 months to design projects, adjust enabling frameworks (procurement, tariffs, safeguards), and then check progress. To ensure credibility and inclusivity, Addis Ababa must:
- Put people at the centre: Fund youth-led initiatives, dedicate clean-cooking funds, and enshrine FPIC for Indigenous communities.
- Back local solutions with real finance: Scale mini-grids, solar home systems, and clean cooking into full national programs; set up one-stop national βfront doorsβ for climate finance; and budget for nature as infrastructure.
- Ensure fairness and transparency: Adopt clear benefit-sharing rules, effective complaints mechanisms, and public disclosure of carbon/nature finance distribution.
Conclusion
The Nairobi Summit raised ambition but left gaps in finance, unity, and inclusivity. Addis Ababa must move from promises to delivery, with measurable outputs such as megawatts on the grid, households accessing clean cooking, finance disbursed on time, and community-benefiting carbon deals.
Nairobi promised; Addis must deliver.
Ms. Farhiya Farah is an Independent Consultant focused on Climate Action. She is also the CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Story Africa.
Β©Citizen Digital, Kenya
Continue reading...
