Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa has called on African countries to strengthen their climate negotiation capacity and build broader alliances ahead of the 2027 COP32 summit, which will be hosted in Addis Ababa.
The call was made at the close of the 7th Africa Climate Talks held in the Ethiopian capital from April 30 to May 1, where policymakers, climate negotiators, scientists, civil society groups and development experts met to shape Africa’s climate agenda ahead of COP31 in Türkiye next year and COP32 in 2027.
Presenting the outcomes of the meeting, Cosmas Ochieng said the discussions focused on three strategic priorities: strengthening Africa’s negotiating power, building wider coalitions around practical climate solutions, and advancing actions outside formal UN climate negotiations that could support the success of COP32.
The talks were held on the sidelines of the 12th African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.
Participants said the world was entering a critical phase in climate action, marked by widening emissions gaps, intensifying climate impacts and declining trust in global climate commitments.
They stressed that future credibility of international climate processes would depend on implementation rather than declarations.
Africa’s hosting of COP32 in Addis Ababa was described as a defining moment not only for the continent, but also for the global climate agenda.
Delegates noted that the conference would come at a time when the international community is expected to demonstrate tangible progress in climate adaptation, financing, loss and damage compensation, and implementation of outcomes from the Global Stocktake.
The meeting also reviewed outcomes from the Second Africa Climate Summit, the Climate Change and Development in Africa Conference XIII and COP30, while assessing the implications of the first Global Stocktake on Africa’s next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0).
Discussions further explored issues related to climate finance, carbon markets, adaptation, just transition and the growing relationship between trade and climate policy.
Participants proposed the establishment of structured follow-up mechanisms, including technical working groups that would identify priority negotiation issues and prepare analytical papers to guide Africa’s engagement ahead of COP32.
They also recommended the creation of stronger coalition-building platforms involving governments, academia, the private sector, civil society and development partners to mobilise support around measurable climate outcomes.
Speakers at the forum highlighted the need to better connect climate, land and biodiversity agendas while safeguarding the integrity of international environmental agreements.
They further emphasised the importance of strengthening African scientific research and promoting closer collaboration between universities, research institutions and government ministries.
Community participation also emerged as a key issue during the discussions.
Delegates said communities should not merely be viewed as beneficiaries of climate interventions, but as active partners in designing and implementing solutions.
They called for rights-based and environmentally credible nature-based solutions that support development while protecting land rights, promoting benefit-sharing, recognising indigenous knowledge and advancing gender justice.
On climate finance and technology, participants urged African countries to invest in home-grown carbon solutions, improve monitoring and traceability systems, and promote fair and transparent carbon markets.
They also called for increased domestic financing and improved access to green technology, while pushing for stronger efforts to address global perceptions that continue to limit investment flows into Africa.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to reposition Africa from a passive recipient of global climate decisions to an active force shaping climate implementation and accountability.
Participants said Africa must anchor its climate strategy in science, equity, finance, institutional coordination and development priorities to ensure COP32 delivers meaningful results for both the continent and the wider world.