Ethiopia has been chosen to host the next Africa Climate Summit, filling a leadership gap after no other nation volunteered to follow Kenya’s inaugural 2023 event. Yet as Addis Ababa prepares, questions linger over unfulfilled promises from the previous summit, raising doubts about Africa’s ability to turn climate pledges into action.
The African Union (AU) confirmed Ethiopia’s role after closed-door discussions, framing it as a pragmatic choice given the country’s diplomatic weight and AU headquarters presence. But Nairobi’s experience looms large: despite high ambitions, the 2023 summit saw low turnout (only 20 of 55 African leaders attended) and little progress on critical issues like climate finance and green energy transitions.
The AU insists this summit will prioritize inclusive planning and continental unity, but deep divisions remain. Kenya’s President William Ruto, who leads the AU’s climate committee, even offered to rehost, a sign of how few nations were willing to take on the responsibility.
As Ethiopia steps into the spotlight, the stakes are high. With Africa disproportionately impacted by climate change yet receiving just 2% of global clean energy investments, the summit is a crucial platform to demand accountability and action. But unless concrete commitments replace rhetoric, the event risks becoming another missed opportunity.
Will Ethiopia break the cycle of unmet promises? Or will Africa’s climate leadership remain stuck between ambition and reality?
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