Addis ababa: The Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) has launched the fifth edition of the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice (NSSCJ) at Addis Ababa University, drawing participants from more than 60 countries. This year’s program is being held in Ethiopia’s capital as a strategic prelude to the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), which will be hosted from September 8-10, 2025. The NSSCJ equips young people with knowledge, skills, and networks to engage in high-level policy discussions, ensuring their voices are heard at the upcoming continental gathering.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the school, although independent of the official ACS2 agenda, is a deliberate move to amplify youth perspectives. Similar forums are often convened by civil society and youth groups ahead of major global and continental events to finalize positions and influence negotiations. The program provides a platform for intergenerational dialogue, featuring young climate activists as well as prominent speakers from academia, government, and international organizations.
In her keynote address, Minister for Planning and Development, Fitsum Assefa, underscored the moral urgency of climate justice. She emphasized that the call for climate justice is moral, urgent, and non-negotiable. Fitsum noted Africa’s dual role as both a frontline victim of climate change and an emerging leader in global climate action. She highlighted Africa’s leadership, stating that the continent is not just a victim but also a leader and partner in driving global climate ambition.
Fitsum Assefa further explained that Africa is warming faster than the global average, with climate extremes costing economies between 2 percent and 5 percent of GDP every year. She pointed out that, although Africa contributes less than 4 percent of global emissions, it bears a disproportionate burden of climate change. Ethiopia, she noted, has long recognized the urgency of climate change and has integrated climate actions into its policies, boasting a stand-alone climate-resilient green economy strategy since 2011.
Through the Green Legacy Initiative, launched in 2019 under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia has planted more than 48 billion seedlings, aiming for 50 billion by 2026. This initiative has restored degraded land, reduced soil erosion, improved food security, created green jobs, and rehabilitated over 15 million hectares through watershed management and area enclosures.
Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of PACJA, highlighted the strategic importance of holding the NSSCJ in Addis Ababa at this moment. He stated that the Nairobi Summer School is about building a movement by bringing young leaders to Addis Ababa on the eve of the Africa Climate Summit. This ensures that they are equipped to shape the future of climate justice and directly influence continental decision-making.
Mwenda also noted the untapped potential of African innovations, often spearheaded by young people. The two-week program, running from August 25 to September 4, 2025, immerses participants in a transdisciplinary curriculum covering topics from climate finance to grassroots mobilization. The NSSCJ’s presence in Addis Ababa demonstrates a commitment to a just and sustainable future through intentional collaboration and youth leadership, ensuring their message is heard as African leaders convene for the ACS2.