The 2nd UNFCCC Climate Week kicked off on Monday (September 1) at the Addis International Convention Center in Addis Ababa. Climate Week is the initiative of the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that commenced this year by the first event hosted in Panama.
Opening the High-Level segment of the conference on Wednesday (September 3), President Taye Atske Selassie emphasized the urgency of translating climate ambition into tangible action. In his statement, he expressed the concern that a decade after the Paris Agreement, the world is off track in terms of meeting the global climate targets, and Africa continues to bear a disproportionate impact.
He also underscored that climate action must drive our development, not compete against it. Furthermore, President Taye highlighted Ethiopia’s bold climate and environmental actions, citing the Green Legacy Initiative, Integrated Corridor Development and agriculture transformation initiatives as exemplary efforts and lessons that can be scaled up in other parts of Africa.
Fitsum Assefa, Minister for Plan and Development highlighted Ethiopia’s commitment to climate leadership through the Green Legacy Initiative, renewable energy expansion, and a transition toward sustainable and inclusive development. The Minister emphasized the climate week and the deliberations therein align with the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) and reassured the audience of Africa’s readiness to set the pace for global progress.
Noura Hamladji, Deputy Executive Secretary, UNFCCC, who also made a statement during the high-level opening, recognized Africa is leading the way in climate action through several national projects, including community mini-grids in Kenya, green bonds in South Africa, and the Green Legacy Initiative in Ethiopia.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, underscored the meaningful connection that exists between the climate week and the Second Africa Climate Summit that will be hosted in Addis. He also called for translation of all pledges on climate finance, including the 1.3 trillion USD annual climate finance, into action.
Ethiopia’s selection to host the Second Climate Week reaffirmed its commitment to climate leadership and sustainable development across Africa. The Climate Week is part of the UNFCCC’s biannual Climate Week series, designed to translate global climate commitments into tangible action, provide a platform for regional and global collaboration, and shape the agenda for COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
At the meeting, Ethiopia announced its interest in hosting the UNFCCC-COP32 in 2027 and requested support from member states.