The inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS I), held in Nairobi in September 2023, was hailed as Africa’s chance to reclaim its voice in global climate diplomacy. Building on outcomes from COP27, the summit spotlighted climate finance, nature-based solutions, renewable energy, and locally led responses. Its biggest achievement was the Nairobi Declaration, which outlined financing pathways, urged reforms to global financial systems, and institutionalised the ACS as a biennial African Union (AU) process.
Yet, critics such as the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) argued the Declaration fell short, citing weak political will and limited inclusion of civil society and frontline communities. Concerns also centred on underfunding, heavy reliance on carbon markets, and inadequate support for adaptation. Despite USD 26 billion in pledges, the summit exposed gaps in financing, unity among African states, and meaningful participation.
Since Nairobi, some progress has been made. The Loss and Damage Fund, established at COP28, has begun supporting resilience in water, health, and early warning systems. The World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) launched “Mission 300” to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. Meanwhile, the AfDB unveiled a Carbon Credit Support Facility to strengthen market integrity, and Kenya advanced regulatory frameworks, including new carbon market rules and a national clean cooking strategy.
Attention now shifts to Addis Ababa, where ACS II (September 8–10, 2025) is expected to consolidate Nairobi’s gains ahead of COP30 in Brazil. With updated national climate commitments due in 2025/26, the Addis summit faces mounting pressure to demonstrate delivery especially on finance, energy, and equitable transition planning.
Key proposals include an AU Delivery Scoreboard to track progress, reforms in global finance architecture, a roadmap for renewable energy and cross-border grids, and AU-wide safeguards for carbon markets. Advocates also call for stronger inclusion of youth, Indigenous peoples, and local communities through dedicated funding and fair benefit-sharing mechanisms.
The Nairobi Summit raised ambition, but Addis Ababa must turn promises into tangible results megawatts on the grid, households with clean cooking, timely climate finance, and carbon deals that genuinely benefit communities. Nairobi promised; Addis must deliver.
Ms. Farhiya Farah is an Independent Consultant focused on Climate Action and CEO of Earth Story Africa.
