The Chairman of the African Union Commission (AUC), Mahamoud Youssouf, has urged the international community to provide unwavering support for Africa in the global climate transition, stressing that climate justice is a right, not a favour.
Youssouf, represented by AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Amb. Bankole Adeoye, made the call on Wednesday at the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The summit, themed “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development,” brought together leaders and stakeholders to discuss how to align Africa’s development priorities with global climate goals.
According to Youssouf, the conversations went beyond rhetoric to address historical injustices, the urgent need for fair climate financing, and Africa’s leadership in crafting solutions.
“We called for repair of historical harms, not through symbolic gestures, but through meaningful climate finance that addresses past injustices and supports our future resilience,” he said.
He noted that the adoption of the Addis Ababa Declaration and the launch of the Flagship Report on Continental Climate Initiatives marked the start of a “new chapter” for Africa’s climate action—one driven by investment, not aid, and by African-led innovation rather than external prescriptions.
Youssouf stressed that Africa’s climate demands must be seen as calls for equity and shared responsibility. “Climate finance cannot become a new form of debt—it must be a path to sovereignty, not servitude,” he warned.
The AUC chairman also underscored the need for stronger institutions, good governance, and policies that enable public-private partnerships to de-risk investments and channel capital into African priorities.
“Africa’s climate finance demands are not charity appeals,” he said. “They are calls for justice and for recognising African innovation as a global asset, not an untapped resource.”
He added that the summit reframed carbon markets as tools for sustainable development that benefit African communities, rather than systems of exploitation.
With COP30 on the horizon, Youssouf urged global stakeholders to stand with Africa in its climate transition. “We must not leave Africa behind. The time to invest fully, fearlessly, and urgently in African solutions is now,” he said.
