Whether Australia or Turkey will host the UN climate conference next year is still up in the air. However, there is no doubt that Ethiopia, a major player in African diplomacy, would win in 2027.
On the second day of COP30, the 30th United Nations climate change conference, which was taking place in the Brazilian Amazon, the news was made public.
The Africa Group of Negotiators’ chair, Richard Muyungi, said AFP that the organization “has endorsed Ethiopia.” The African nations’ decision was verified to AFP by the Brazilian COP30 presidency.
It’s not yet official — the decision still needs to be officially adopted by all participating nations during the conference, which ends on November 21 — but that should be a formality.
“We welcome the announcement of COP32 in Ethiopia and look forward to elevating Africa’s climate priorities and leadership,” said Rukiya Khamis, Africa senior organiser at the nonprofit 350.org.
UN climate conferences are organized in rotation among five regional blocs, which must select the host country by consensus within their group. The process can lead to power struggles.
This year, Brazil was chosen to host COP30 on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean states. Africa’s turn is scheduled for 2027, and Ethiopia was selected as the host country over Nigeria, another African giant.
“We look forward to welcoming all of you to Addis Ababa for COP32,” Ethiopian Ambassador to Brazil Leulseged Tadese Abebe said in response, during a plenary session, adding his country had begun initial preparations.
The Ethiopian capital, which serves as the African Union’s (AU) headquarters, has a long history of hosting significant international gatherings, including various international conferences and AU annual meetings.
