PRESS RELEASE

Somali Diaspora Advocacy Working Group Calls for Bold, Inclusive Climate Action at Africa Climate Summit
8 September 2025

The Somali Diaspora Advocacy Working Group urges African leaders, international partners, and climate finance institutions meeting at the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in Addis Ababa to take decisive, coordinated action to protect climate vulnerable nations and scale up locally led solutions.

Across the continent, communities are experiencing the severe impacts of climate change, especially in Somalia, from recurrent droughts to destructive floods and large‑scale displacement.

At the same time, in Somalia innovative responses are emerging, including solar energy projects powering rural towns, community driven water harvesting, and coastal ecosystem restoration that safeguards livelihoods and biodiversity.

The call to ACS2 leaders is clear: climate finance must be fair, predictable, and grant‑based, avoiding debt burdens that undermine recovery.

A significant share of such finance should be directed to local and national actors, including women’s groups, youth innovators, and civil society organisations.

Diaspora capital, skills, and networks should be fully integrated into national climate strategies to drive green growth.

Investment in African-led anticipatory early warning systems blending indigenous knowledge with modern technology is essential to act before crises escalate.

Above all, climate commitments must be monitored transparently, with affected communities meaningfully involved in shaping the decisions that impact their lives.

Africa is not solely a victim of climate change; it is a driver of the solutions the world urgently needs.

This is a moment to match ambition with delivery, ensuring that climate action is just, inclusive, and transformative for generations to come