Kenya and Somalia have taken center stage at the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in Addis Ababa, rallying African nations to embrace bold, united, and transformative climate action.
President William Ruto of Kenya, who also serves as Coordinator of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), emphasized that climate action must be seen not as a burden but as an opportunity for growth, jobs, and transformation.
“Climate action is not a burden but a catalyst for growth, jobs, and transformation,” Ruto said.
“Two years after ACS1, Africa’s voice is stronger, our solutions recognized, yet no nation can face this crisis alone. Isolation is failure; collaboration is survival. We must build a green, inclusive industrial future, embrace win-win solutions, and hold ourselves and partners accountable.”
Ruto also thanked Ethiopia for hosting ACS2 and underscored the summit as a critical step in advancing Africa’s common climate agenda.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud echoed these sentiments, calling for stronger partnerships and equitable access to climate finance, particularly for vulnerable regions such as the Horn of Africa.
“Africa’s case is clear and urgent: addressing its unique vulnerabilities, securing fair and predictable climate finance, and implementing solutions at scale are essential for sustainable development,” he stated.
“Let Addis Ababa be remembered as the moment we turned commitments into collective action.”
The Second Africa Climate Summit, hosted by the Government of Ethiopia in collaboration with the African Union Commission, is taking place from September 8–10, 2025, under the theme “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.”
Building on the inaugural summit held in Nairobi in 2023, ACS2 is expected to consolidate Africa’s climate voice on the global stage, showcase homegrown solutions, and press for fairer financial frameworks to support resilience and green industrialization across the continent.
As the summit progresses, leaders and delegates are expected to forge stronger commitments to climate finance, renewable energy investment, and continental solidarity in the face of escalating climate impacts.