Premium
How Ethiopia rallied the world to support COP32 bid
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy at a past event.
What you need to know:
- In the end, African governments supported Ethiopia, handing the mantle to the Horn of Africa country and, effectively, sinking Nigeria’s lackluster bid.
Just two months after hosting the Africa Climate Summit 2.0 (ACS2.0) in September, Ethiopia has been named as the host for COP32 in 2027.
Even as negotiations were underway at ACS2.0, Addis Ababa already had its eyes on COP32, two years away,
At the conference, Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy announced Ethiopia’s interest.
Behind the scenes, the country had already established a sophisticated diplomatic apparatus to bring the conference home.
Made up of officials from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the unit’s operations were based at the Ethiopian Embassy in Brasilia. Days before COP30, Ethiopian diplomats in Brazil went on an onslaught, engaging and rallying other diplomats and delegates to support their country’s bid.
In a statement published on LinkedIn, a social media platform, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country’s bid was ‘more than an offer’ to host COP32. ‘‘It’s a call for fairness, partnership, and shared responsibility for our planet.’’
The ministry added: ‘‘Hosting COP32 in Ethiopia would elevate Africa’s voice in global climate decisions —where those most affected can also lead the conversation.’’
It was always a one-horse race, with Ethiopia’s bid strengthened by its capital’s status as the ‘home of the African Union and countless international institutions’, and what Addis Ababa calls ‘the beating heart of African diplomacy.’ This, Ethiopians say, makes their country the perfect stage for COP32.
Still, Ethiopians went on to woo the global community, citing vision, capacity, and determination ‘from the highest levels of government.’ Besides, Addis Ababa has the right infrastructure, notably modern conference venues and hotels and warm hospitality to welcome the global community with open arms.
By Monday morning, it had become clear where the wind was blowing, with some officials coming out to announce their successful bid. It was Ethiopia’s race to lose. And they had won it.
In the end, African governments supported Ethiopia, handing the mantle to the Horn of Africa country and, effectively, sinking Nigeria’s lackluster bid.
At the heart of the bid, however, has been the country’s Green Legacy Initiative. Championed by Prime Minister Abiy, this initiative has seen the country embark on ambitious clean-energy investments. The launch of the 5000-megawatt Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Africa’s largest hydro dam, was easily one of the highlights of ACS2.
“(Our) bold sustainability policies show Ethiopia’s climate leadership in action — not just words,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Ethiopia’s selection as host of the next African COP is a powerful recognition of its commitment to building resilience, advancing renewable energy, and driving home-grown climate solutions. The country has long been a regional leader in
sustainable development, with flagship initiatives that integrate climate adaptation into national planning and community livelihoods,” said Mohamed Adow, director, Power Shift Africa.
Ironically, the destination for next year’s COP31 is not yet known, with both Australia and Turkey bidding to welcome the world for the climate talks.
Under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) rules, the Conference of Parties (COP) is hosted in the six regions of the UN on a rotational basis.
The regions are the African Group, the Asia-Pacific Group, the Eastern European Group, the Latin American and Caribbean Group, the Western European and Others Group, and the Arab Group.
In this format, Australia falls under the Western European and Other States. Turkey is also a member of this group, although it falls under the Asia-Pacific group.
By winning the rights to host the world’s premier climate talks in 2027, Ethiopia’s bid has come a full circle. Before Ethiopia came into the picture to bid for the second edition of the Africa Climate Summit, it was not clear which country would stage the summit. Nairobi had even offered to host the talks after what many observers consider a successful first ACS. That was before Ethiopia came into the picture.
COPs held in Africa
Morocco- 2001 and 2016
Kenya -2006
South Africa- 2011
Egypt -2022
