Leaders meet in Ethiopia to discuss how COP30 can advance Africa’s energy ambitions

Brazil's COP30 Presidency and the International Energy Agency (IEA) today held the second in a series of High-Level Energy Transition Dialogues, bringing together energy and climate leaders from around the world to help shape the energy agenda and outcomes for COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

Co-chaired by COP30 President-Designate Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago and IEA Deputy Executive Director Mary Burce Warlick, the event provided a valuable contribution to the opening day of the second Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Discussions centred on African priorities, with leaders exploring how COP30 can accelerate the delivery of existing energy commitments and Nationally Determined Contributions, as well as other urgent energy sector goals. Key topics discussed included delivering universal access to electricity and clean cooking; mobilising investment for energy projects that promote security, sustainability and economic growth; and ensuring that the benefits of energy policies reach local communities.

The event included more than 50 participants, including ministers, industry leaders and civil society representatives. These included COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev; Ethiopia's State Minister for the Ministry of Water and Energy Asfaw Dingamo; Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition Selwin Hart; Tanzania's Climate Envoy and Chair of the African Group of Negotiators Richard Muyungi; United Kingdom Special Representative for Climate Rachel Kyte; Norway's Special Envoy for Climate and Security Hans Olav Ibrekk; France's Climate Envoy Benoit Faraco; Italy's Undersecretary of State to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security Claudio Barbaro; COP30 Climate High-Level Champion Dan Ioschpe; and Clean Cooking Alliance CEO Dymphna van der Lans.

The 2025 High-Level Dialogues build upon the momentum of previous editions, which helped shape the UAE Consensus reached at COP28 in Dubai and the energy outcomes of COP29 in Baku. Organised with the participation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat and the UN Secretary-General's Climate Action Team, these Dialogues convene decision-makers to inform the energy agenda for COP30 and beyond. The next Dialogue will take place later this month in New York, alongside the United Nations General Assembly.