Addis ababa: Ethiopia’s State Minister for Planning and Development and Chair of the National Organizing Committee for the second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), Seyoum Mekonnen, has reaffirmed the role of grassroots leadership in shaping a unified African climate agenda. The state minister made these remarks during a virtual briefing with over 1,000 Non-State Actors (NSAs) from across Africa.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Seyoum emphasized that governments alone cannot drive the desired transformation in addressing climate change. He highlighted that many innovative and community-rooted solutions emerge from Non-State Actors rather than government entities. Civil society organizations, community groups, youth networks, and other NSAs are considered essential drivers of African-led climate solutions.
Yonas Gebru, Chair of the Non-State Actors and Inclusivity Committee of the Summit, further elaborated on the significance of NSAs, stating that although they may not hold government positions, they are dee
ply embedded in communities, witnessing the daily impacts of climate change and delivering frontline solutions. NSAs also demand accountability and bring community-informed ideas into critical spaces.
This collaborative approach is part of Ethiopia’s commitment, alongside the African Union Commission (AUC), to ensure that ACS2 is inclusive and action-oriented, representing all African voices. Ethiopia is preparing to host the second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in September.