The Africa Climate Week and the Africa Climate Summit will next week be held in Addis Ababa. With rising temperatures, recurrent droughts, floods, and loss of livelihoods, the continent faces the harshest consequences of a crisis it contributed the least to.
Yet, global interventions continue to fall short of the urgency required, leaving African leaders to carve out their own path toward a sustainable future.
This year’s gathering has been described as a defining moment for Africa. It is not only a platform for governments but also for artists, activists, academics, and communities who insist that solutions must be people-centered and rooted in justice.
“Africa must set the tone for bold climate action. There is need to “reject false solutions and accelerate the transition from coal, oil, and gas to renewable energy,” one campaigner noted.
Central to the discussions is the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, which has already attracted support from 17 nations across the Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia.
Advocates argue that such a treaty would complement the Paris Agreement by tackling the crisis at its source, fossil fuels, and securing financing for a fair transition.
Beyond the negotiating tables, culture and creativity are adding powerful layers to the call for change. A gallery exhibition titled All Power to the People opened at Studio 11 Art Gallery in Addis Ababa.
The showcase brings together Pan-African artists and members of the diaspora whose work blends bold imagery, cultural memory, and visionary storytelling. Through their art, they are pledging solidarity for climate justice while highlighting the lived realities of African communities.
On September 9th, a series of pivotal side events will further ground the conversation. A session titled Beyond Emissions: Addressing the Supply Side of Climate Change for a 1.5°C Future will examine how multilateral frameworks such as the Fossil Fuel Treaty can unlock a just, financed transition.
Hosted by Ecojustice Ethiopia, C40 Cities, Fridays for Future Uganda, and Power Shift Africa, the discussion aims to show that phasing out fossil fuels is both urgent and achievable.
A final dialogue on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Energy Systems will showcase national experiences from Angola, Nigeria, and Kenya.
