By Abbas Nazil
The 13th Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-XIII) has opened in Addis Ababa with a strong call for African-led solutions to the escalating climate crisis.
The three-day conference, convened under the theme “Empowering Africa’s Climate Action with Science, Finance, and Just Transition,” brings together policymakers, scientists, civil society, negotiators, development partners, and private sector leaders to shape a unified climate agenda for the continent.
Speaking on behalf of African Union Commissioner Moses Vilakati, Jihane El Gaouzi of the Sustainable Environment Division stressed that Africa must seize this pivotal moment to turn vulnerability into opportunity.
She described Africa not as a continent of risks but one of solutions, innovation, and youthful ambition, urging participants to advance climate finance, adaptive capacity, and homegrown technologies.
Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance, warned of the human toll of inaction, citing that over 110 million Africans were impacted by floods, droughts, and heatwaves in 2024 alone.
He insisted that Africa, despite contributing least to global emissions, bears the greatest cost, and said the conference must help build a strong common position for negotiations on the global stage.
Richard Muyungi, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators, emphasized Africa’s sovereignty in shaping its development pathway, backed by ecological wealth and African-led research.
He called for climate finance reforms, doubling adaptation funds, operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund, and reshaping the global financial architecture to meet Africa’s priorities.
The event is jointly convened by the African Union Commission, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and the African Development Bank, alongside partners like PACJA.
Over the next three days, participants will deliberate on strategies to enhance resilience, drive inclusive green growth, and mobilize large-scale climate finance aligned with the AU’s Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022–2032).
The conference is expected to produce a roadmap that strengthens Africa’s voice in global climate diplomacy while advancing just transition goals across the continent. END
