Ethiopia poised to host 2027 un climate summit, bringing global focus back to africa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s bustling capital, is set to be officially named as the host city for COP32, the 2027 United Nations climate conference, with the announcement expected on November 18. This decision, strongly supported by the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change, will mark a significant return of the world’s premier climate summit to the African continent for the first time since Egypt hosted COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh in 2022.

The selection represents more than just a venue change—it’s an opportunity to center African perspectives in global climate discussions. “As host of the next COP, Ethiopia now has a vital platform to amplify African voices and priorities, particularly around adaptation finance, renewable energy access, and climate justice,” explained Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa. He emphasized that this spotlight could showcase “Africa’s capacity for innovation and its determination to move from vulnerability to strength in the face of global climate disruption.”

The timing is particularly significant given Africa’s historical underrepresentation as a COP host. Despite the UN’s stated commitment to rotating the annual climate summit among five regional groups, Africa has hosted the conference only five times since the first COP in 1995—including two occasions in Marrakech, Morocco. This imbalance is notable considering that African nations are among those most severely impacted by climate change while contributing least to global emissions. Ethiopia’s hosting of COP32 could help address this disparity while ensuring that adaptation funding and climate justice remain central to international climate negotiations.