By Albert Oppong-Ansah
Accra, Feb. 2, GNA- The African Union Commission (AUC) has begun a comprehensive review of its climate change interventions to assess progress made in 2025, identify challenges, and shape a coordinated work plan for 2026 and beyond.
At the opening of a multi-stakeholder meeting in Accra at the weekend, Dr Samuel Ogallah, Climate Change Coordinator at the AUC, said climate change was a cross-cutting issue that required coordinated action across African Union departments, member states, regional economic communities, climate commissions, and development partners.
The formed part of a post-mortem analysis of the Commission’s climate actions implemented through its Climate Change Unit under the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment.
“The purpose of this meeting is to review what has worked, what has not worked, why that is the case, and what lessons we have learned, so we can integrate them into our 2026 planning,” he said, explaining that the review process was anchored on joint planning and co-creation.
Dr Ogallah said the meeting brought together representatives of Regional Economic Communities, Africa’s three Climate Commissions, AU departments, civil society organisations, academia, and international partners, including Africa CDC, the African Development Bank, UNDP, UNEP, and other development agencies to, among other things, prepare Africa’s roadmap towards the 32nd Conference of Parties (COP32).
He said the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on climate change, currently chaired by Ghana, was also participating in the discussions to ensure alignment between technical planning and Africa’s global climate negotiations.
Dr Ogallah said the 32nd Conference of Parties (COP32) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), world be hosted by Ethiopia this year.
“Because COP32 will be held on African soil, we consider it an African COP. We are designing a roadmap to support the Ethiopian Government to ensure that COP32 responds to Africa’s realities and priorities,” he said.
He added that the Commission was also reviewing outcomes of the Africa Climate Summit held in Addis Ababa in September 2024, particularly the implementation of the Africa Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action.
All AUC climate work was guided by the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022–2032), which aligned with Agenda 2063; “The Africa We Want”, Dr Ogallahsaid.
Highlighting key priorities for 2025, he said Africa must speak with one voice at COP31, scheduled to take place later this year and co-hosted by Türkiye and Australia.
Nana Dr Antwi Boasiako-Amoah, the new Chair of AGN, in his first public speech, said his vision for the upcoming biennium was hinged on inclusivity, transparency, collaboration, and youth engagement.
“My vision is anchored on four fundamental pillars,” he stated, highlighting the first as Inclusivity.
He noted that the gathering offered a valuable platform for member states to contribute to shaping the group’s strategic direction and aligning with the 2026 strategic plan.
“This extends beyond ensuring all member states are represented in AGN coordination processes,” he said, encompassing interaction with the broader African climate governance architecture, as well as engagement with civil society, think tanks, and intergovernmental organisations.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
2 Feb. 2026
