- Energy and Climate
AEF at the Second Africa Climate Summit
- The Africa-Europe Foundation
The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS 2), held in Addis Ababa from 8–10 September 2025, offers a pivotal opportunity for the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) to reinforce cross-continental partnerships across critical sectors of cooperation – from transition minerals and green industrialisation to the regenerative blue economy and sustainable finance.
As a technical partner for ACS 2, AEF will leverage the Summit to advance a forward-looking and progressive Africa-Europe climate partnership on the #RoadtoLuanda25, with the aim of bridging ACS 2 and the 7th AU-EU Summit, set to take place in Angola on 24–25 November. We will mobilise key decision-makers from both continents through high-level convenings, contribute new research products resulting from the AEF Research Facility, and provide strategic inputs to the Addis Declaration to promote Africa’s climate leadership in partnership with Europe.
- Programme at a Glance
Related content
Enhancing Africa-Europe Cooperation on Energy Transition Minerals: Jointly Unlocking Competitiveness and Prosperity (closed door)
8 September 2025 | 07:30–09:00 | African Union Pavilion
In partnership with the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP), this dialogue marks the fourth in a series initiated in 2023—and the first focused specifically on transition minerals in the energy sector. The rising demand for Energy Transition Minerals (ETMs) is reshaping geopolitical and geo-economic dynamics, requiring a more strategic, cooperative approach between Africa and Europe.
The discussion will assess how deeper cooperation can boost Europe’s global competitiveness and climate ambition while supporting Africa’s industrialisation and development. It will explore opportunities to mobilise investment and operationalise newly signed Strategic Projects under the EU CRMA, and align with Africa’s Agenda 2063, including the Africa Green Minerals Strategy and South Africa’s G20 Presidency.
Elevating the African Union’s Role in Global Climate Leadership
8 September 2025 | 14:00-15:30 | Room M6
Jointly organised by AEF together with the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), the Pan African Parliament, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), this high-level panel will explore how to elevate the African Union’s leadership in global climate action and strengthen its influence in shaping climate decisions that reflect the continent’s priorities.
The session will assess the structural and political challenges that hinder Africa’s global climate influence and discuss the AU’s mandate and role in advancing a unified continental voice.
The session will also underscore the value of strategic partnerships—particularly with Europe—to unlock investment, technology, and policy alignment. Such collaboration is key to enabling Africa to be not only a beneficiary but a co-leader in shaping a just and equitable global climate transition. Participants can expect a forward-looking dialogue on repositioning Africa within global climate diplomacy.
Africa-Europe Strategic Dialogue: Charting the Green Transition (public)
8 September 2025 | 15:20-16:20 | Ethiopian Pavilion
In partnership with the Government of Ethiopia, and with support from AUDA-NEPAD and the European Commission, this high-level event will launch and discuss three key research studies focused on emerging sectors of Africa-Europe cooperation:
(i) green industrialisation,
(ii) green mineral supply chains, and
(iii) sustainable and innovative finance.
The roundtable will convene leading African and European think tanks to identify joint priorities ahead of the 7th AU-EU Heads of State Summit.
Enhancing Africa-Europe Cooperation on Ocean Governance and the Blue Economy: Advancing Ocean Resilience and a Joint Regenerative Blue Economy (public)
9 September 2025 | 15:30-17:00 | Room F2
As highlighted at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, a regenerative blue economy can drive climate and socio-economic benefits—particularly for African coastal communities. Africa and Europe are well-positioned to lead in ocean resilience and build a joint regenerative blue economy, supporting Africa’s Agenda 2063, the EU Ocean Pact, and SDG 14.
Led by AEF in the context of its work to elevate ocean priorities within the Africa-Europe Partnership, this high-level meeting will reaffirm ocean governance and the blue economy as underleveraged yet strategic pillars of cooperation. The roundtable aims to strengthen joint innovation, finance, and investment in the blue economy, upon which 38 African countries rely.