27/11/2025
Gedion Timothewos Appointed COP32 President-Designate: Ethiopia Steps Into a Historic Global Climate Leadership Role
Ethiopia has officially been selected to host the 32nd Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP32) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), marking a historic milestone for both Ethiopia and the African continent. The country’s nomination reflects growing international confidence in Africa’s climate leadership and Ethiopia’s ability to host a global diplomatic convening of this magnitude.
Based on the UNFCCC rotation cycle, COP32 is expected to take place in November 2027, bringing the world’s largest annual climate gathering to Addis Ababa Africa’s diplomatic capital and home of the African Union.
In a strategic and decisive move, the Government of Ethiopia has appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Gedion Timothewos as President-Designate for COP32, entrusting him with leading national and international preparations. Dr. Gedion will work closely with UNFCCC bodies, the African Group of Negotiators, regional institutions, and multiple international partners to ensure a seamlessly coordinated event.
A Distinctive COP for a Defining Moment
Addressing the National Coordinating Committee an umbrella structure guiding all preparatory work Dr. Gedion Timothewos emphasized that COP32 will be unlike any international conference previously hosted in Ethiopia. His briefing, delivered in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, underscored the scale, diplomatic weight, and global expectations associated with the COP process.
He noted that COP32 will include a vast number of high-level segments, side events, thematic negotiations, ministerial roundtables, pavilions, and multi-stakeholder dialogues, all centred on accelerating climate action. Unlike conventional global meetings, COP32 carries continental and global significance, shaping the trajectory of climate finance, adaptation, energy transitions, resilience building, and global emissions pathways.
Dr. Gedion reaffirmed that Ethiopia intends to deliver a well-structured, transparent, and outcome-driven COP, one that positions the African continent not merely as a climate victim, but as a central driver of solutions, innovation, and climate justice.
What Will Be Expected of Ethiopia as Host of COP32
Hosting COP32 places Ethiopia at the centre of global climate diplomacy. The international community will expect Ethiopia to demonstrate:
1. Strong Diplomatic Leadership
As President-Designate, Ethiopia will guide the negotiation process, influence the agenda, and ensure balanced representation of Global South priorities—especially climate finance, adaptation justice, loss and damage, and technology transfer.
2. A Secure, Accessible, and Efficient Conference Infrastructure
Ethiopia will be expected to:
Deliver world-class conference facilities
Ensure efficient logistics, accreditation, and delegate mobility
Provide secure transportation, hospitality and communications systems
Addis Ababa’s status as host to the AU and numerous multilateral institutions strengthens this capacity.
3. Credible Climate Ambition
Ethiopia will be anticipated to demonstrate its own progress in:
Renewable energy expansion
Reforestation and land restoration
Carbon neutrality pathways
Climate-resilient agriculture
Green investment mobilization
4. Unified African Climate Positioning
As host, Ethiopia will be expected to coordinate closely with:
The African Union
African Group of Negotiators
Regional Climate Centres
African Ministers of Environment
This role reinforces Africa’s push for equity in climate finance, energy access, and global climate governance reforms.
Why Ethiopia Is a Unique and Credible Host for COP32
Ethiopia’s selection is not accidental—it is the result of demonstrated climate leadership, regional influence, and strategic diplomatic consistency. Key strengths include:
1. The Green Legacy Initiative
Ethiopia’s transformative reforestation project, with more than 25 billion trees planted, is one of the world’s leading examples of land restoration and climate resilience.
2. Africa’s Diplomatic Capital
As headquarters of the African Union, UNECA, and numerous international missions, Addis Ababa offers unparalleled accessibility for global diplomacy.
3. Proven Capacity to Host High-Level Summits
Ethiopia has repeatedly hosted international and continental summits with thousands of delegates, demonstrating reliability in complex logistics and security coordination.
4. Rapidly Modernizing Infrastructure
Ongoing investments in:
Airport expansion
Hotel capacity
Digital systems
Road networks and urban infrastructure
support Ethiopia’s readiness for an event of COP scale.
5. A Vision for Green Growth
Ethiopia’s Climate-Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Strategy positions the country as a continental leader in long-term green development.
Africa’s Moment, Ethiopia’s Mandate
As the world prepares for COP32 in 2027, Ethiopia is poised to deliver one of the most consequential climate conferences of the decade.
By hosting COP32, Ethiopia is signalling to the world that Africa is rising—not merely as a frontline region of climate vulnerability, but as a centre of climate diplomacy, innovation, and global environmental governance.
Dr. Gedion Timothewos' appointment as COP32 President-Designate sets the stage for a COP driven by African priorities, global ambition, and a renewed commitment to a just and sustainable world.
📸 Credit Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia
Department of International Relations
African Union
Delil Kedir
Embassy of Ethiopia in Pretoria
COP30 Brasil
United Nations
UN Climate Change
United Nations in South Africa
Yohannes Gashama
.
