The Second Africa Climate Summit, held in Ethiopia in September 2025, drew more than 25,000 people – from presidents and ministers to farmers, activists, business leaders and students. They came to talk about how Africa can source finance to grow in greener ways and cope with worsening climate disasters. Africa has barely contributed to greenhouse gas emissions but is highly exposed to climate-caused disasters. At the same time, the continent is not funded enough to adapt to the warming planet. Legal scholar Pedi Obani looks at the three biggest plans unveiled at the summit – and what it will take to turn them into reality.
Big finance for Africa’s green future
A major topic of discussion at the summit was how to increase the money available to fund Africa’s adaptation to the new, rapidly heating climate.
