The opening day of the second Africa Climate Summit (ACS-2) saw African leaders planting trees in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as they reaffirmed their commitment to the continent’s climate agenda.
Among the leaders planting trees on Monday were Kenyan President, William Ruto, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Djibouti President, Ismail Omar Guelleh, among others.
Speaking at the ACS-2, President Guelleh called for effective adaptation of Africa to face climate change.
According to him, Africa must first seek to mitigate the extent of climate effects through greater adaptation of its countries to the negative transformations resulting from climate change.
He says “Immediately, the urgency calls for an adaptation strategy in place. This is, among other, through the restoration of degraded ecosystems, but also through investments in the social development of vulnerable communities.”
On his part, President Ruto observed that “Africa is redefining climate action, not as a burden, but as an opportunity for growth, jobs, and transformation.”
According to him from the Nairobi Declaration to the 2nd Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, African nations have embraced Climate Positive Growth, positioning Africa as a global source of solutions.
He disclosed that entrepreneurs and communities are already driving change through green industrialisation, climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and carbon markets.
But realising this vision requires global partnership: reforming finance to cut capital costs, expanding concessional flows, mobilising private investment, addressing currency and debt risks, and opening markets to Africa’s green solutions.
Meanwhile, at the ACS-2, President Ruto launched the report: “Africa’s Journey of Climate Action and Partnership”, affirming that these summits are not stand-alone events, but milestones on a shared path to a climate-safe, prosperous future for all.
