Pretoria: Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, Dr Dion George, is set to attend the second Africa Climate Summit in Ethiopia this week. The summit, lasting three days, is co-convened by the African Union and the Ethiopian government and will focus on the theme, “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.”
According to South African Government News Agency, the summit will gather stakeholders from across the continent to discuss “Africa led climate change solutions.” The event serves as a platform for policymakers, practitioners, businesses, and civil society to further Africa’s climate agenda and sustainable development goals, in alignment with Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, and the principles of multilateralism.
The summit aims to build on the strong commitments established during the inaugural summit in 2023, which resulted in the Nairobi Declaration, an eleven-point call to action reflecting Africa’s unified stance on climate action. The s
ummit will also highlight Africa’s ambitious greening efforts, laying the groundwork to address climate change impacts effectively while promoting greener, more sustainable development.
“Climate solutions can only be tangible if they are supported by meaningful action, backed by political will and resourcing,” said George before the summit. In South Africa, progress has been marked by the enactment of the Climate Change Act earlier this year, followed by the launch of the country’s first sectoral climate change plan, the Climate Change Coastal Response Plan.
Following a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process, including workshops and consultations, South Africa recently published the National Greenhouse Gas Carbon Budget and Mitigation Plan Regulations for public comment. “By setting clear carbon budgets and mitigation plans, we are ensuring that our nation meets its climate commitments while fostering economic growth and social equity,” concluded the department.