[PRESSWIRE] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 2026-02-14 — African leaders have urged stronger continental alignment on climate action and climate finance to seize the economic opportunities offered by the global shift toward climate-positive growth and sustainable investment.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Kenyan President William Ruto, who chairs the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), highlighted the continent’s renewable energy potential as a competitive advantage.
“As the global economy shifts towards climate-positive investment, Africa’s vast renewable resources providing reliable and affordable power significantly bolster the continent’s competitiveness,” Ruto said.
Africa’s installed renewable capacity has expanded rapidly over the past decade — more than doubling to over 59 gigawatts (GW) by 2024, dominated by hydro, solar and wind projects — but still represents a fraction of global totals. Africa accounts for roughly 1.6 per cent of global renewable capacity, underscoring both progress and persistent gaps in investment and infrastructure.
Ruto stressed the urgency of unity on climate solutions, including climate financing, to position Africa as a destination for clean energy, green industrialisation and adaptation investment. Leaders at CAHOSCC called for tripling climate finance flows to Africa by 2030 and targeted mobilising up to US $100 billion for climate projects, a benchmark adopted at recent continental discussions.
“There is currently a substantial shortfall in climate finance to Africa,” said one senior AU official. Despite hosting 20 per cent of the world’s carbon sinks and contributing less than 4 per cent of global emissions, Africa receives under 10 per cent of global climate adaptation funding and just 3 per cent of total climate finance, according to UN estimates.
President Ruto added that strategic alignment on climate priorities would strengthen African economies and generate sustainable employment for the continent’s youth, a critical concern given Africa’s rapidly rising working-age population.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan travelled to Addis Ababa to join fellow leaders at the summit, reflecting her government’s commitment to African unity, multilateral cooperation, peace and sustainable development, according to a statement from the Directorate of Presidential Communications.
Ahead of the Assembly, President Samia attended the CAHOSCC meeting, where outcomes of the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) were reviewed, alongside assessments of progress on the African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change, the African Action Plan on Carbon Markets and the African Gold Standard for Carbon Markets initiatives.
On the margins of the summit, President Samia was scheduled to hold high-level bilateral talks with counterparts and development partners, aimed at consolidating political dialogue, deepening economic cooperation and advancing shared development priorities.
The AU’s 39th Ordinary Session, under the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” underscores member states’ commitment to water security, public health and inclusive development across the continent.
Tanzania is concluding its term on the AU Peace and Security Council after two consecutive terms from 2022–26, having contributed to continental initiatives on peace, conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction. Under rotational arrangements, Burundi is expected to assume the Chairmanship of the Assembly Bureau, with Tanzania named as Second Vice-Chairperson representing the Eastern Region.
President Samia has also been proposed as AU Champion for Maternal and Child Health, a designation expected to be endorsed, reflecting continued pan-African engagement on health and human capital development. The AU Assembly remains the continent’s highest decision-making organ, tasked with adopting binding resolutions and steering peace, security, economic integration and sustainable development.
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