Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopian prime minister, delivering a speech at ACS2
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has implored African countries to develop homegrown solutions to climate challenges while pursuing green industrialisation.
Ahmed spoke on Monday at the opening of the second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) themed: ‘Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development’, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He noted that the continent can industrialise without sacrificing its natural resources.
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“Too often, Africa’s story at climate summits begins with what we lack — finance, technology, time,” Ahmed said.
“Let us begin instead with what we have: the youngest population in the world, the fastest-growing solar belt on earth, vast arable land, and rich deposits of minerals for green technologies.”
The prime minister also described Ethiopia’s soon-to-be inaugurated Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which will generate over 5,000 megawatts of renewable power for Ethiopia and East Africa, as “a continental symbol of self-reliance, unity, and clean energy”.
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Ahmed called for a shift in global partnerships, urging international actors to invest with Africa rather than fund it because of vulnerability.
“We propose the launch of an African Climate Innovation Compact — a bold, continent-wide partnership uniting universities, startups, rural communities, and innovators,” he said.
“By 2030, it should deliver 1,000 African solutions across energy, agriculture, water, transport, and resilience.”
Mahamoud Youssouf, African Union Commission chair, backed the call, underscoring the need for fair and predictable climate finance to address Africa’s vulnerability due to debt and structural inequalities.
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“The African Union Commission firmly believes that climate finance must be fair, significant and predictable,” Youssouf said.
“Let us seize this defining moment to reaffirm our continent’s unequivocal position regarding our global obligations but differentiated responsibilities.”
ACS2, which is scheduled to run from September 8-10, aims to showcase African-led solutions, mobilise finance at scale, and advance a united stance for the continent ahead of COP30.
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