Ethiopia is hosting two major climate events with the aim of helping Africa formulate a unified position ahead of the global COP-30 summit, said Dr. Fitsum Assefa, Ethiopia's Minister of Planning and Development.
Dr. Fitsum noted that the country's proactive stance on climate change—demonstrated through its commitment to building a green economy—is a key reason it was chosen to host these significant forums.
The Second United Nations Global Climate Week is currently underway in Addis Ababa, running from Sep 3-6, 2025. The event, held under the theme "Turning Dialogues into Action and Results," is focusing on translating climate pledges into tangible outcomes.
Following this, the Second African Climate Summit is scheduled from September 8-10, bringing together leaders from across the continent. With the theme of "Accelerating Global Climate Solutions; Financing Africa's Green Development," the summit is expected to focus on generating policy ideas for COP-30, which will be held in Brazil.
From Words to Action
Dr. Fitsum highlighted that the impact of climate change is especially severe in Africa and emphasized the urgent need for concrete action over rhetoric. She cited Ethiopia's own initiatives—including the Green Legacy Initiative, the expansion of wheat and renewable energy production, and the "Ye Lemat Tirufat" (Bounty of the Basket) project—as examples of the country's commitment to building a climate-resilient economy.
The Minister stressed that collective action is essential to controlling the effects of climate change. She stated that decisions made during the ongoing events will be crucial in enabling Africa to approach COP-30 with a unified stance, ensuring the continent's interests are effectively represented.
Dr. Fitsum also called attention to the significant gap in climate finance, noting that while $1.3 trillion is needed to mitigate the global climate crisis, the implementation of international pledges has been lacking. She urged the global community to work together to ease the burden on the nations and people most vulnerable to climate change.
