Ethiopia to Host COP32, PM Abiy Ahmed Announces During COP31 Leaders' Summit

Türkiye, 11 November 2026 - Ethiopia will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32), Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Wednesday during the COP31 World Leaders' Climate Action Summit at the Antalya Expo Centre in Antalya, Türkiye.

PM Abiy first thanked the government and the people of Turkiye for the warm welcome. He also thanked Australia for leading the negotiations.

“In Ethiopia, climate action is economic policy. When El Nino returns, droughts and floods affect us and force families from their homes. The rains come back and subside, but recovery takes longer,” he said.

He said the federal government is working with communities and local governments to act earlier and protect what families have built.

“Our climate matters beyond our borders. More than 90% of our electricity comes from water, including the power we supply to different countries. Rainfall also sustains the coffee,” he said, adding that changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures pose a threat to farmers.

Ethiopia gives the world Arabica coffee.

Climate action teaches Ethiopians how to live in harmony with nature.

The PM highlighted that the country is keen to clean up polluted rivers, beautify parks where families gather and harness wind and geothermal energy. Plans are also underway to harness nuclear energy so that drier seasons do not affect the country’s energy supply.

“Ethiopia will host COP32. We will put early action at the centre. Funding released in one income, reaching the most affected first. That work should begin here, with every pledge of finance answering three questions. How much? By when? On what terms? The answers must be clear enough for a government to budget, investors to commit and a community to prepare. Ethiopia will work closely with the COP31 presidency for a successful outcome here,” he stated.

During the opening ceremony of the leaders’ summit, Abiy stated that Ethiopia is on the front row in the push to restore degraded land and forests.

“Every year, millions of Ethiopians join in planting trees. Together we have planted 56 billion seedlings, restoring degraded land and expanding our forests,” he said.

Murat Kurum is the President of COP31 in Antalya, while Chris Bowen of Australia is the President of Negotiations.

UN Climate Change Conferences (or COPs) take place every year and are the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change that brings together almost every country on Earth.

During the COPs, the world comes together to agree on actions to address the climate crisis, such as limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

“A moment at the COP31 Leaders’ Summit that highlights the importance of global cooperation and shared responsibility to address climate challenges and a collective gathering of world leaders for this greater purpose,” the office of PM Abiy wrote on Facebook.

As world leaders gather for the COP31 Leaders’ Summit, citizens in their respective countries are optimistic that this global solidarity and shared responsibility will help address pressing climate challenges.