Addis ababa: As the Second United Nations Climate Week officially opened in Addis Ababa today, leaders have underscored Africa’s pressing demand for climate finance and urged the global community to take swift action.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, President Taye Atske Silassie of Ethiopia emphasized the importance of the ‘Baku to Belém Roadmap’, which aims to mobilize 1.3 trillion USD annually by 2030 for investment in a sustainable future. He highlighted the challenges many countries face, including unsustainable debt and an outdated global financial architecture, and called for tangible commitments to support climate resilience.
The President urged stakeholders to eliminate bureaucratic barriers hindering climate financing, as extreme weather events push millions into poverty and damage vital infrastructures. He highlighted Africa’s minimal contribution to global climate change yet disproportionate suffering from its effects, advocating for climate action that drives development, creates jobs, and
enhances food security. He stressed that Africa should not have to choose between economic growth and environmental stewardship.
In preparation for the upcoming Second Africa Climate Summit, also to be hosted in Addis Ababa, President Taye announced plans to focus on key issues like utilizing critical minerals for clean technology, integrated electricity markets, and empowering women and youth in climate leadership. He noted Ethiopia’s commitment to combating climate change through initiatives like the Green Legacy Initiative, which has resulted in the planting of 47.5 billion trees since 2019.
The President also mentioned Ethiopia’s transformation from a net importer to achieving wheat self-sufficiency via the Climate Smart Wheat Initiative, and the imminent inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which will generate over 5,000 megawatts of renewable energy. He expressed hope that the outcomes of this gathering will influence future climate summits, including COP30 in Brazil, urging par
ticipants to transition from dialogue to action.
UN Climate Change Deputy Executive Secretary Noura Hamladji emphasized the necessity of cooperation and solidarity in overcoming the climate crisis. She highlighted the importance of turning pledges into actionable solutions that benefit communities, stressing the urgency of increased financial flows to developing countries to meet the 1.3 trillion USD annual target by 2035.
Hamladji cited Africa’s potential to lead by example through successful initiatives such as community mini grids, recycling innovations in Kenya, and Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative. These actions inspire stronger economic growth, job creation, improved living standards, and cleaner energy solutions. She noted the critical timing of this Climate Week alongside the upcoming Africa Climate Summit for fostering collective action to address the climate crisis effectively.
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf underscored the urgency of the moment and reaffirmed the Af
rican Union’s commitment to strong leadership and partnerships on this crucial journey. He called on the international community to support Africa by ensuring climate finance is equitable, technology transfer is effective, and capacity building is prioritized. The insights and momentum from this Climate Week will be vital, he stated, urging for a unified African voice in the pursuit of climate implementation, equitable transitions, and resource mobilization ahead of COP30.