A joint statement by Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and Fitsum Assefa, Ethiopia’s minister of planning, implored global leaders to fully empower Africa for climate action ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
They made the statement on Thursday during the climate week held in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopia’s capital.
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“Africa is ready to supercharge climate action, but COP30 must ensure Africa is fully enabled to do so,” the statement reads.
They highlighted Africa’s vast renewable energy potential, young population, and rich natural resources as a “colossal coiled spring of climate action possibility”.
The statement also warned that despite global clean energy investments hitting $2 trillion last year, only a fraction reaches African nations.
Noura Hamladji, UN climate change deputy executive secretary, said climate week focused on linking international climate processes to everyday life, highlighting initiatives that are “profitable, scalable, and irreversible”.
Mukhtar Babayev, president of COP29 in Azerbaijan, described the event as a key space for addressing Africa’s unique climate challenges and maximising opportunities for effective action.
Climate week, attended by delegates from 119 countries, NGOs and investors, advanced COP30 discussions on adaptation, finance, and just transition, while connecting intergovernmental talks with practical implementation.
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