Ruto urges Africa to view climate action as a path to jobs
President William Ruto has called on African leaders to view climate action as a path for securing jobs and an opportunity for growth and transformation in African countries.
Ruto made his remarks on Monday, September 8, 2025, while making his speech during the 2nd Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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At the time, Ruto urged African leaders to reframe the conversation around climate action not as a burden, but as a strategic opportunity to drive economic transformation, create jobs, and position the continent as a global leader in sustainability.
“Africa is redefining climate action, not as a burden, but as an opportunity for growth, jobs, and transformation,” Ruto said.
According to Ruto, since the Nairobi Declaration, Africa has so far embraced Climate Positive Growth, positioning Africa as a global source of solutions.
“From the Nairobi Declaration to the 2nd Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, we’ve embraced Climate Positive Growth, positioning Africa as a global source of solutions,” Ruto added.
Rutocalls for climate-smart agriculture
He also added that entrepreneurs and communities are already driving change through green industrialisation, climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and carbon markets.
“Entrepreneurs and communities are already driving change through green industrialisation, climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and carbon markets,” Ruto noted.
Similarly, the Head of State has noted that tapping into the climate change vision requires global partnership, reforming finance to cut capital costs, expanding concessional flows, mobilising private investment, addressing currency and debt risks, and opening markets to Africa’s green solutions.
“But realising this vision requires global partnership, reforming finance to cut capital costs, expanding concessional flows, mobilising private investment, addressing currency and debt risks, and opening markets to Africa’s green solutions,” he added.
Notably, during his address, Ruto launched a report dubbed Africa’s Journey of Climate Action and Partnership, which, according to Ruto, affirms that such climate summits are not stand-alone events but milestones on a shared path to a climate-safe, prosperous future for all.
Worth noting, the report reviews progress since the 2023 Nairobi Declaration and charts future climate pathways.
“Addressed the 2nd Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and launched the report ‘Africa’s Journey of Climate Action and Partnership,’ affirming that these summits are not stand-alone events but milestones on a shared path to a climate-safe, prosperous future for all,” Ruto noted.
Africa Climate Summit
President William Ruto is attending the second Africa Climate Summit and the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The summit brings together African Heads of State and Government to push forward the continent’s climate action and green growth agenda.
