By Juliet Nwobodo, ONE Champion Nigeria and Matilda Asha, ONE Champion Alumni
In Addis Ababa, the Africa Youth Climate Assembly (AYCA) and the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) brought together leaders, activists and innovators to confront a stark reality: Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions but bears the greatest burden of climate change. For us as ONE Champions, the gatherings were not just about listening, they were about shaping Africa’s climate future.
At AYCA, the energy was electric. Leaders like Dr. Mithika Mwenda of PACJA and H.E. Moses Vilakati of the AUC reminded us that Africa’s climate struggle is inseparable from its struggle for justice. From the Ambassadors’ Round Table on Climate Diplomacy to the Future Builders session on green jobs, one message rang out: Africa’s transition must create real opportunities for young people.
We were not passive observers. Alongside hundreds of youth delegates, we reviewed and refined the AYCA Declaration, embedding clear demands on climate finance, green jobs and accountability. Presenting the document to H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, affirmed that young people are not simply participants but key actors in shaping climate governance.
The ACS theme “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development” was especially urgent. In refugee camps like Kakuma, Dadaab and Jigjiga, climate shocks fuel displacement and deepen vulnerability. For young innovators across Africa, ideas often stall because of a lack of funding. This is why we championed a fully funded ADF-17 replenishment, lowering the cost of capital and greater African representation in global financial spaces like the G20. Financing resilience is not charity; it is survival.
Beyond plenaries, we engaged in panels such as Women-Led Climate Resilience and From Risk to Resilience, organised by ONE with Open Society and ACET. We pressed leaders on how climate funds can reach women and girls in rural areas who, while bearing the brunt of climate risks, are building grassroots solutions. Juliet’s interventions led to a BBC News interview, where she stressed that Africa needs investment, not aid that entrenches dependency.
This is where storytelling comes in. Without amplifying the voices of women, youth and communities already adapting, Africa risks being seen only as vulnerable rather than as a source of solutions. Storytelling transforms statistics into lived realities and ensures Africa’s leadership is visible.
