The 13th Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-XII) will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from Friday, September 5, to Sunday, 7, 2025. This year, the Conference will convene under the theme “Empowering Africa’s Climate Action with Science, Finance and Just Transition”.
CCDA -XIII, occurring just a few days ahead of the second Africa Climate Summit (ACS-2), will serve as the technical segment that provides a crucial foundation for ACS-2, focusing on strengthening resilience, fostering green growth and scaling up climate finance.
The backdrop of this is that Africa stands at a critical juncture in the global climate crisis. Despite contributing less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions (IEA, 2022), the continent remains one of the most vulnerable to climate change.
From prolonged droughts in the Horn of Africa to devastating floods in West Africa, the impacts are intensifying. Empowering Africa’s climate action demands a dynamic interplay of science, finance, and a just transition—underpinned by the foundational role of enabling infrastructure such as climate mapping systems.
Science: Mapping the Path Forward
Science is essential to building climate resilience, but the quality and availability of data matter just as much. Climate mapping systems—such as geospatial tools, hazard maps, and ecosystem vulnerability indices—serve as critical infrastructure for planning, monitoring, and prioritising adaptation and mitigation actions. These systems help identify risk-prone areas, allocate resources efficiently, and inform resilient infrastructure development.
For instance, Africa’s Geo-Referenced Infrastructure and Demographic Data for Development (GRID3) and regional climate services are helping countries like Zambia and Nigeria plan more targeted interventions (UNDP, 2021). These tools not only enhance scientific decision-making but also increase transparency, which is key to unlocking public and private climate finance.
Finance: Scaling with Data and Confidence
Climate finance remains a major bottleneck. Africa receives only about 3% of global climate finance flows (CPI, 2023). Investors—especially from the private sector—often hesitate due to perceived risks and lack of data. This is where mapping systems become strategic: by providing evidence-based risk assessments and investment maps, they reduce uncertainty and help structure bankable projects.
Public finance institutions and development banks are more likely to fund programs that are data-driven and clearly targeted. Likewise, private financiers look for investment-grade information on climate risks, potential returns, and socio-economic impact. Mapping systems provide this clarity and are essential for blended finance models that combine concessional and commercial capital.
Just Transition: Inclusive and Informed
A just transition ensures climate action is equitable, participatory, and inclusive. Millions of Africans still lack access to modern energy or formal employment. As countries shift toward green growth, mapping tools can guide where interventions are needed most—such as off-grid solar in rural areas, sustainable agriculture zones, or regions in need of re-skilling programs.
Moreover, by integrating social and gender-disaggregated data into mapping platforms, policymakers can ensure no vulnerable group is left behind. This strengthens social buy-in and ensures that the green transition supports communities rather than displacing them.
Conclusion
Science equips Africa with the tools to act, finance provides the means to scale, and a just transition ensures fairness. Crucially, mapping systems act as the connective tissue between them—translating complex data into actionable insights that attract investment and deliver impact.
For Africa to lead in climate adaptation and resilience, these systems must be prioritised as core infrastructure. With the right investments and partnerships, Africa can chart a climate-smart, inclusive, and prosperous future.
Hence, the Second Africa Climate Summit has to realise the need to treat and advance science as a sustainability enabler and game-changer. Once this is appreciated at the political level across the continent, it will be much easier to convince climate financiers (with hard evidence), and to crowd in private investment to scale adaptation and mitigation. In turn, this will unlock opportunities to improve livelihoods in this region.
References
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IEA (2022). Africa Energy Outlook 2022.
International Energy Agency.
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IPCC (2023). Sixth Assessment Report.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
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Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) (2023). Global
Landscape of Climate Finance 2023.
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UNDP (2021). Mapping a Sustainable Future:
GRID3 Applications in Africa.
·
African Development Bank (2021). Africa
Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP).
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