Addis Ababa, October 10, 2025 (ENA) - The Addis Ababa Transport Bureau is preparing to implement a National Vehicle Emission Standard to help mitigate carbon emissions in the city, according to Bureau Head Yabebal Addis. A half-day discussion with pertinent bodies that focused on the implementation of air quality surveillance on transport infrastructure and raising awareness about the new standard was held today. During the discussion, Yabebal stated that the Bureau is working closely with relevant stakeholders to effectively enforce the National Vehicle Emission Standard ES6725/2022 and the related Emission Controls Directive No. 1051/2017.   The Head stated that the Emission Control Directive details the responsibilities and duties of pertinent bodies, including environmental protection and health institutions, as well as vehicle associations. He added that the National Vehicle Emission Standard and the Emission Controls Directive clearly outline the expected contributions from all parties involved in the enforcement effort. “In the implementation of the Vehicle Emission Standards, devices would be utilized to determine whether a vehicle meets emission Standards or not. If the vehicle does not meet the standard, it will be modified in utilizing emission mitigating devices,” the head underscored. Yabebal underscored the new standard's enforcement, stating clearly that any vehicle failing to meet the Emission Standards will not be allowed to operate on the road. He also noted complementary initiatives underway in the city, such as road infrastructure under corridor development, the adoption of electric vehicles, and the implementation of non-motorized transport. These efforts are key components of the national goal to achieve a 68.8% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. Teferi Abegaze, an Assistant Professor at the Addis Ababa University's School of Public Health and a consultant for the Partnership for Healthy Cities, asserted that the Emission Controls Directive will play a significant role in mitigating carbon emissions.   He noted that since vehicles are among the leading causes of carbon emissions, implementing the Emission Standards are paramount to reducing air pollution.

Addis Ababa, October 5, 2025 (ENA) -- The Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) has announced that the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) is yielding significant opportunities to advance food sovereignty, foster sustainable economic growth, and enhance biodiversity conservation. Director General of the EBI, Karta Kaske, told ENA that the institute is significantly stepping up its efforts to conserve biodiversity.   He emphasized the crucial role of GLI in maintaining soil fertility, bolstering food security, and supporting sustainable agricultural practices. According to Karta, ongoing soil and water conservation activities are revitalizing ecosystems, which, in turn, is directly contributing to increased agricultural production and productivity. He further emphasized that the strategic use of improved crop varieties and modern agricultural technologies is essential for achieving long-term food sovereignty while simultaneously protecting the environment. Regional officials have also reinforced the positive assessment of the GLI. Director General of the Oromia Environment Protection Authority, Seyfedin Mahadi, noted the program's success in restoring degraded ecosystems and promoting food security through widespread tree planting.   Similarly, Mengesha Awraris, Head of the Amhara Regional State Environment and Forest Protection Authority, commended the initiative's positive impact on biodiversity and land restoration.   Abraham Mecha, Head of the Central Ethiopia Regional State Forest and Environmental Protection Development Bureau, also praised the program, stating that the GLI has created crucial opportunities to enhance productivity by improving ecosystems and biodiversity.  

Addis Ababa, September 30, 2025 (ENA)—The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Regional Dialogue opened at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, bringing together over 400 participants from more than 43 countries. The three-day event, hosted by Ethiopia, is being held under the theme: “GCF.10: 10 Years of Climate Impact – Towards a Resilient Africa: Advancing Regional Solutions for Climate Action, Sustainable Growth, and Inclusive Development.” Seyoum Mekonen, State Minister of Planning and Development, officially launched the Dialogue, stressing that Ethiopia’s climate ambition is deeply embedded in its development priorities. He highlighted the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam delivering 5,150 MW of clean energy and the 48 billion trees planted under the Green Legacy Initiative as proof of Ethiopia’s practical commitment to sustainable growth. Seyoum also urged delegates to build on the outcomes of the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), including the launch of the African Climate Innovation Compact (ACIC) and the Africa Climate Facility (ACF), which showcase Africa as a provider of homegrown climate solutions. Catherine Koffman, GCF Director for Africa, reaffirmed the Fund’s support for aligning reforms with African priorities, while James Murombedzi of UNECA emphasized the need to shift from “aid” to “investment” in global climate finance. Ethiopia also formally proposed Addis Ababa as the host of the planned GCF Africa Regional Office, citing the city’s status as the diplomatic capital of the continent, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

By Mahder Nesibu Addis Ababa, September 28, 2025 (ENA) -- The Second African Climate Summit, held in Addis Ababa from 8–10 September 2025, marked a defining moment in Africa’s approach to climate change. Traditionally framed as a region vulnerable to global emissions yet lacking bargaining leverage, Africa has increasingly asserted itself as a source of practical solutions, innovative finance, and policy leadership. The summit, convened under the theme “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development,” sought to reposition the continent from a passive recipient of climate commitments to a proactive architect of its climate future. By producing the Addis Ababa Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action, launching the Africa Climate Innovation Compact (ACIC) and the African Climate Facility (ACF), initiated by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, ACS2 combined political unity, operational ambition, and strategic financing to chart a pathway for Africa’s influence in global climate forums, particularly the upcoming COP30 in Belém, Brazil. At its core, the summit reflected recognition that Africa’s climate challenges cannot be addressed piecemeal. Fragmented national positions and uneven institutional capacities had long weakened the continent’s negotiating influence and limited its access to both public and private finance. ACS2 addressed this through a combination of political consensus and operational instruments. The Addis Ababa Declaration, unanimously endorsed by participating Heads of State and Government, crystallized continental priorities: adaptation and resilience as financing imperatives, renewable energy expansion and green industrialization as growth engines, and a commitment to Africa-led mechanisms for project delivery and finance mobilization. By translating strategic goals into a shared document, the summit established both a narrative and a framework for collective action, strengthening Africa’s bargaining position on the global stage. The Africa Climate Innovation Compact represents the summit’s operational linchpin. Designed to identify, incubate, and scale climate solutions developed on the continent, ACIC sets an ambitious target of delivering 1,000 bankable solutions by 2030, spanning energy, agriculture, water, transport, and urban resilience. Complementing this, the African Climate Facility functions as a financing instrument intended to mobilize approximately US$50 billion per year in catalytic capital, blending public, private, and multilateral resources to bridge the persistent gap between pilot initiatives and scalable projects. Together, these mechanisms constitute a “pipeline-plus-capital” model, which directly addresses the historical challenge of Africa possessing innovative solutions yet lacking the financial infrastructure to deploy them at scale. By linking solution identification with robust financing, ACIC and ACF embody a credible, results-oriented approach that transforms political commitments into actionable projects.   The significance of these instruments extends beyond their immediate financial or technological scope. They demonstrate Africa’s ability to self-organize at continental scale, coordinating innovation ecosystems, diaspora engagement, and regional financiers to generate tangible climate outcomes. ACIC emphasizes local ownership, drawing upon universities, research centres, and indigenous knowledge systems, ensuring that interventions are contextually appropriate, socially inclusive, and operationally sustainable. Similarly, the ACF’s catalytic design signals to global investors that African projects are structured for impact, with mechanisms for risk mitigation, blended finance, and transparent governance. This combination strengthens Africa’s credibility in international negotiations, transforming the continent from a perceived climate recipient into a credible climate partner. The summit also produced a series of financing breakthroughs that enhance Africa’s capacity to act independently. A cooperation framework among African development finance institutions and commercial banks, collectively targeting US$100 billion in mobilization, illustrates the continent’s readiness to deploy capital for green industrialization and renewable infrastructure. Additional commitments, including partnership arrangements led by the European Investment Bank to unlock up to €100 billion in investment by 2027, and bilateral pledges from Denmark and Italy, reinforce the signal that Africa can coordinate domestic and international finance to operationalize climate priorities. These flows, while supplementary, provide the critical early-stage funding needed to establish proof-of-concept projects and catalyse private investment. Beyond financing, ACS2 underscored the importance of programmatic coherence. The summit endorsed the second phase of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP 2.0), aiming to mobilize US$50 billion by 2030 to climate-proof food systems, infrastructure, and urban areas. Simultaneously, sectoral initiatives such as Mission 300, targeting energy access for 300 million people by 2030, and regional clean cooking programs, demonstrate Africa’s ability to design interventions with measurable social, economic, and environmental co-benefits. By aligning these programs with ACIC and ACF, the summit creates a pipeline of bankable, high-impact projects that both domestic governments and international partners can support.   Ethiopia, as host, highlighted the role of national leadership in demonstrating ambition and feasibility. The country showcased large-scale climate and infrastructure interventions, including ongoing tree-planting campaigns under its Green Legacy initiative and the political and operational milestones surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Ethiopia’s simultaneous announcement of its bid to host COP32 in 2027 signals a broader strategic intent: Africa is not merely a venue for discussion but an architect of the global climate agenda. By integrating domestic action, diplomatic engagement, and continental facilitation, Ethiopia exemplifies the potential for African states to merge national achievement with collective leadership. The broader significance of ACS2 lies in its contribution to a unified African voice at COP30 and subsequent climate forums. Historically, fragmented positions and varying national capacities limited the continent’s influence, particularly in negotiations over adaptation finance, debt sustainability, and energy transition. By consolidating priorities into the Addis Ababa Declaration, linking them to operational mechanisms, and signalling robust finance mobilization, Africa now presents a coherent package: a set of pragmatic asks underpinned by delivery mechanisms. This clarity strengthens both political leverage and credibility, while aligning continental demands with global financing targets, such as the UNFCCC’s “Baku to Belém Roadmap” for scaling climate finance to US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035. At the same time, ACS2 demonstrates the strategic role of diaspora engagement and innovation ecosystems in extending Africa’s climate reach. ACIC’s design explicitly incorporates partnerships with universities, SMEs, and research institutions, while leveraging diaspora networks to amplify solutions internationally. These linkages create both technical capacity and narrative influence: Africa is not only a recipient of climate finance but a generator of scalable, bankable, and replicable solutions. By creating platforms for knowledge transfer and investment mobilization, ACS2 embodies a model in which innovation, finance, and political unity converge to strengthen continental agency.   Nevertheless, the summit also highlighted the challenges inherent in ambition. Operationalizing ACIC and ACF requires the rapid establishment of governance structures, capital mobilization, and monitoring mechanisms. Delivering US$50 billion annually, alongside 1,000 bankable solutions by 2030, remains aspirational, dependent on domestic policy alignment, regulatory reform, and sustained international cooperation. Ensuring that adaptation finance remains largely grant-based and non-debt-creating is essential to prevent exacerbating sovereign vulnerabilities, while investor confidence will hinge upon regulatory clarity, transparent reporting, and predictable policy frameworks. These risks, however, are mitigated by the deliberate integration of political consensus, operational instruments, and finance mobilization evident at ACS2. Comparative reflection on these outcomes illustrates several lessons. ACS2 demonstrates that political unity, operational design, and finance mobilization are mutually reinforcing. The Addis Ababa Declaration consolidates Africa’s priorities and narrative, ACIC and ACF translate ambition into implementable projects, and continental finance frameworks signal capability and readiness to both domestic and international partners. Just as Africa’s cultural and creative industries have leveraged diaspora networks, technological ecosystems, and state support to project influence, ACS2 demonstrates that climate leadership can similarly be structured, scalable, and credible. Finally, the summit emphasizes the strategic and symbolic dimension of African climate leadership. By projecting a unified voice, operational capacity, and financing ambition, ACS2 positions the continent not only as a claimant to climate resources but as a credible partner capable of delivering tangible outcomes. This reframing is critical: Africa moves from a narrative of vulnerability to one of agency, from a perceived recipient to a source of deployable solutions. If the operational frameworks and financing mechanisms established at Addis Ababa are implemented effectively, ACS2 may mark a turning point—where Africa’s climate ambitions are no longer aspirational rhetoric but tangible, measurable, and globally recognized. The Summit exemplifies the intersection of political cohesion, operational innovation, and strategic financing as instruments of continental agency. Through the Addis Ababa Declaration, the Africa Climate Innovation Compact, and the African Climate Facility, Africa has crafted a framework capable of shaping its climate trajectory while strengthening its negotiating position internationally. By linking ambition to implementable projects, mobilizing domestic and international capital, and fostering continental unity, ACS2 offers a blueprint for Africa to transform climate vulnerability into opportunity, influence, and leadership on the global stage.