Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George has confirmed he will attend the second Africa Climate Summit that will be hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from September 8 to 10.

He expects South African representatives at the summit to contribute meaningfully towards shaping African-led climate solutions and unlock more climate finance on the continent.

The summit is rooted in Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want and the principles of multilateralism, George states.

He lauds the summit organisers – the African Union and the Ethiopian government – for providing a platform for policymakers, practitioners, businesses and civil society to advance Africa’s climate agenda and sustainable development priorities.

The theme for the summit this year, Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development, seeks to build on and implement the strong commitments having been agreed on at the inaugural summit in 2023.

The 2023 Africa Climate Summit delivered, for example, the Nairobi Declaration, which is an 11-point call to action that signifies Africa’s unified stance on climate action.

George expects the summit to spotlight Africa’s leadership and innovation in addressing the climate crisis and provide the continent’s formal position ahead of the COP30 conference, in Brazil, later this year.

“As one of the worst affected regions by climate change, this summit is an indication that African people are not complacent and ignorant to the climate crisis.

“As we near the conclusion of South Africa’s G20 presidency and anticipate COP30, more African voices are critical in leading the movement from talk to action,” George says.

South Africa, for one, remains committed to building a low-carbon and more climate-resilient economy, while also strengthening regional collaboration on climate action, the Minister explains, citing the example of the promulgation of the Climate Change Act in the country as having been a significant development.

South Africa also launched its first sectoral climate change plan, the Climate Change Coastal Response Plan, as well as the National Greenhouse Gas Carbon Budget and Mitigation Plan regulations for public comment earlier this year.

“By setting clear carbon budgets and mitigation plans, we are ensuring that our nation meets its climate commitments while fostering economic growth and social equity,” George concludes.