Global Leaders Convene in Nairobi to Forge Path for Climate-Resilient Africa
Global Leaders Convene in Nairobi to Forge Path for Climate-Resilient Africa
By Stella Ranji
Nairobi, Kenya – June 30, 2025 — A diverse coalition of global leaders, scientists, faith leaders, and grassroots actors convened in Nairobi today for the opening of the Vatican African Conference on Climate Resilience, a landmark summit aimed at designing a new era of climate adaptation rooted in equity, local knowledge, and science.
Hosted at CIFOR-ICRAF, the two-day summit (June 30 – July 1) marks a pivotal step toward shaping a climate-resilient Africa, with an emphasis on decentralising climate policy and financing to reach the continent’s most vulnerable communities. The gathering is co-convened by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (PASS), in collaboration with the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) and other regional and international partners.
At the heart of the conference is a call for urgent, inclusive, and locally driven action. Delegates are examining how tailored solutions—rooted in African realities and traditions—can transform climate responses on the ground, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
“Across Africa, communities are already demonstrating that local knowledge, regenerative practices, and nature-based solutions are powerful tools for climate resilience,” said Dr Eliane Ubalijoro, CEO of CIFOR-ICRAF. “We must amplify these efforts and invest in integrated approaches that bridge science, policy, and action.”
Participants are exploring a wide range of themes including sustainable forestry, ecosystem restoration, nature-based solutions, and the role of faith communities in promoting climate justice.
Solidarity Beyond Borders
The summit opens amid mounting evidence that Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change, despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions. Prolonged droughts, floods, and crop failures continue to erode livelihoods and threaten food and water security.
“Climate change knows no borders; all of us feel its cruel effects,” noted Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, of the University of Massachusetts and member of PASS. “We must move beyond division and embrace solidarity and shared resilience—standing together behind bold actions and policies that serve the public good.”
Centering Local Voices
Speakers at the summit are calling for a shift in global climate policy architecture to ensure resources and decision-making power are transferred to the local level. This includes empowering municipal governments, traditional leaders, women, and youth to shape climate solutions from the ground up.
“Africa’s climate challenges demand solutions that are rooted in science, informed by local realities, and driven by inclusive partnerships,” said Dr Jackie Kado, Executive Director of NASAC. “This summit is a crucial step toward empowering cities and communities to lead on climate resilience through innovation, solidarity, and determined action.”
Dr Wilber Ottichilo, Governor of Vihiga County and Chair of Kenya’s Environment, Forestry and Climate Change Committee, emphasised the moral imperative for equity: “While climate change is a global phenomenon, its impacts vary—with the poorest populations bearing the heaviest burden.”
Toward a Global Blueprint
The outcomes of the Nairobi summit will feed into a global blueprint for climate resilience, to be shared with cities and communities around the world. Organisers aim to ensure that Africa's experiences and innovations are not only acknowledged, but serve as foundational models in global climate policy discourse.
Workshops, policy dialogues, and field visits during the conference will generate a set of actionable recommendations, bridging climate science with local implementation.
As the climate crisis deepens, the Vatican African Conference on Climate Resilience stands as a bold statement: that global climate justice begins with local empowerment—and that Africa’s leadership is essential to building a sustainable future for all.
