Last week, I was at the Africa Climate Talks 7 (ACT7, from  April 30 to May 1, 2026), the latest in a series of convenings that bring together policymakers, civil society, youth and pan‑African institutions with the aim of sharpening the continent’s collective voice ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Turkiye.  

These discussions arrive right after the COP 30’s underwhelming climate finance outcomes and just before the Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB64) in June 2026, as well as the Pacific Pre-COP31 in Fiji this October.  

Even though the world is technically prepping for COP 31, most of the conversation in the room looked much ahead to COP32 which will be held much closer to home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia- the capital of the African Union and my home, something to be very excited about. 

The excitement is not just because Addis Ababa, will host the talks, but it's also because of what’s on the agenda: critical discussion on adaptation and climate finance aimed at supporting countries adapt and respond to impacts of climate change, among other crucial discussions- will take centre stage. 

This is all coming amidst testy multilateralism in the world now. Climate aid budgets are under strain in several donor countries; geopolitical rifts are widening and trust in global institutions is fraying – all this is happening just when ambition needs to leap forward. 

 ACT7 was the first major gathering to test whether the Addis Ababa Declaration, adopted last year at the second Africa Climate Summit, is hardening into real negotiating positions. The Declaration is a well-reasoned and costed action plan built around three pillars: 

  • accelerating renewable energy through investment to deliver reliable power; 
  • ensuring Africa benefits from its critical mineral not just as exporter but also as producer to capture value locally; 
  • protecting natural heritage through large‑scale restoration efforts like the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative and Ethiopia’s Green Legacy.  

The Declaration also called for $1.3 trillion in global climate finance by 2030, delivered not as debts but as grants. Through the proposed Africa Climate Innovation Compact- a $50 billion facility to support 1,000 homegrown solutions in energy, water and agriculture- the continent would set a benchmark for raising Africa’s share of global renewable investment from a meagre two percent to at least 20 percent by 2030- all rooted in what the continent needs. 

But yet, progress has been frustratingly slow.  

The outcomes of the COP 30 in Belém fell far short of what many African negotiators had hoped for.  Today, solar projects in Africa account for  up to eight times the amount as those in  in Europe, and as climate finance expert Lisa Sachs points out, Africa  remains trapped in a vicious cycle where perceived risks prevent it from  accessing anything but limited and costly  financing —the structural reforms that could fix this situation have been quietly postponed indefinitely. 

This is why gatherings like ACT7 is important. It was not just another conference but a stand! Africa cannot afford to spend the next negotiation cycle defending modest gains. It must shift to setting the agenda ensuring climate moves beyond speeches into implementation.  

Three priorities stand out for me:  

First, financial fairness must move from rhetoric to architecture: it must push for bigger, faster and grant based climate funding that support adaptation without worrying about the debt. This support is not only charity but a legal obligation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Paris Agreement. The continent also needs stronger representation to reflect the realities and priorities including investment in financial institution that mobilise homegrown funding for climate action.   

Second, critical minerals must mean industrialisation, not extraction. The Africa Green Minerals Strategy endorsed in Addis insists that processing, refining and manufacturing happen on the continent. Linking climate talks with trade policy is no longer optional; it is the only way to avoid repeating the resource curse in green disguise. 

Third, the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) must finally prove it works. The $250 million available in its first funding cycle (2025-2026) needs to reach communities that need it most- transparently. Rich countries must step up contribution that match their capacities and historical responsibilities. 

By the time the world lands in Addis for COP32, this fund should be delivering impact through simplified African‑led systems which are working with communities who have had to rebuild their lives repetitively due to continuous cycles of floods, droughts and cyclones.  

The hope is measured but genuine and my biggest take-away from Addis is simple, Africa is not waiting to be told what is possible, it has already priced its transition, built its coalitions, and set its red lines.  

And with the world coming to Addis Ababa, It should arrive ready to fund a plan, not just praise it.