Africa Climate Summit 2: Why Locally Led Action Must Take Center Stage

       

        When it comes to climate action in Africa, the most powerful solutions often grow from the ground up.

Next month, Ethiopia will host the Africa Climate Summit 2, a pivotal moment for the continent to shape its climate resilience agenda. Leaders, policy makers, and climate actors will gather to push forward commitments made in the inaugural summit — but for communities on the frontlines of climate change, this is more than just another high-level meeting.

At Tulia Africa Initiative, we see this summit as a chance to amplify the voices of those most affected by climate shocks — smallholder farmers in drylands, youth-led organizations, and grassroots innovators who are already driving change. Our work in promoting climate-smart agriculture, landscape restoration, and community resilience mirrors the summit’s core call: climate action must be locally driven, inclusive, and backed by sustainable financing.

We expect ACS2 to move beyond declarations into concrete commitments — especially in channeling funding directly to locally led initiatives. Communities like ours cannot wait for distant solutions. We are ready with tested models, community networks, and scalable approaches that need urgent support to expand impact.

We call on governments, development partners, and climate financiers attending ACS2 to prioritize direct investment in grassroots solutions. The future of Africa’s climate resilience depends on enabling communities to lead — not just participate — in the transformation.

The time for action is now. And the action must start where climate change is felt the most: on the ground.