When Addis Ababa hosts the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) from 8–10 September 2025, the choice of venue will be more than logistical – it will be symbolic. Situated in the Horn of Africa, a region simultaneously on the frontline of climate disruption and at the crossroads of renewable energy potential, Ethiopia offers a case study in the dual challenge and opportunity facing the continent. The summit’s theme, “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development”, will inevitably be refracted through this regional lens.

The Horn’s vulnerability is stark: recurrent droughts, shifting rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures are already reshaping livelihoods and economies. Yet it is also a zone of transformative possibility – hydropower from Ethiopia’s Gibe and Grand Renaissance dams, Kenya’s wind corridors, and Djibouti’s geothermal potential exemplify the energy resources that could underpin a low-carbon growth model. For the Horn, the continental financing gap – $3 trillion by 2030 versus current flows of roughly $44 billion is – not an abstract figure; it translates into the pace at which local adaptation projects, cross-border energy grids, and climate-resilient agriculture can scale.

In this context, ACS2 is as much about geopolitical repositioning as it is about climate policy. By hosting, Ethiopia signals its intent to serve as both a regional hub for green infrastructure investment and a diplomatic bridge between African climate priorities and the global financing community. The summit’s deliberations – ranging from equitable finance reform to technology transfer will – help determine whether the Horn can pivot from being an emblem of climate precarity to a laboratory for integrated, climate-smart development. The implications will resonate beyond the region, informing Africa’s collective stance ahead of COP30 and shaping how the continent engages with the architecture of global climate governance.

By Horn Review Editorial