Addis Ababa:Ethiopia has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the climate priorities of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as it prepares to host the 32nd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32) in Addis Ababa in November 2027. The country has pledged an inclusive, transparent, and collaborative process to ensure LDC priorities remain central to the climate agenda.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Foreign Affairs Minister and COP32 President-Designate Gedion Timothewos reiterated this commitment during discussions with LDC Group Chair Ambassador Adão Soares Barbosa of Timor-Leste at the Ethiopia Pavilion, held on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
Gedion emphasized the significance of close consultation and strong partnerships to ensure that the interests and perspectives of LDCs are prioritized in COP32 preparations and deliberations. He highlighted Ethiopia's intention to work closely with the LDC Group and other international partners to forge consensus and advance climate outcomes that reflect the shared aspirations of vulnerable countries.
The Minister also pointed out that a successful COP31 would lay a critical foundation for COP32, sustaining momentum in global climate negotiations and ensuring meaningful progress on collective climate action. Ethiopia is leveraging its participation in COP31 to bolster international partnerships, support constructive negotiations, and build momentum for its upcoming presidency.
Gedion articulated that Ethiopia's primary goal at the Antalya conference is to contribute to a successful negotiation process, which will establish a strong foundation for more effective outcomes at COP32. In pursuit of this goal, Ethiopia will collaborate closely with the Turkish and Australian COP31 presidencies to support ongoing negotiations and facilitate a smooth transition to the next climate conference.
Ethiopia also aims to use the global climate gathering to generate broader international interest in COP32 and encourage widespread participation in the Addis Ababa summit. The Ethiopia Pavilion serves as a dialogue platform for partnership-building and showcases the country's climate initiatives, offering international participants an early glimpse of Ethiopia's preparations and hospitality as the next COP host.
Gedion noted that Ethiopia has made significant progress in its preparations, including advance planning, establishing a dedicated team, drawing lessons from previous COP conferences, and launching practical activities. The Ethiopian delegation is using COP31 as a hands-on learning opportunity to gain firsthand experience of the operational, logistical, and organizational demands of hosting a major international climate conference.
The Minister expressed gratitude to the COP30 Presidency and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for facilitating experience-sharing and knowledge transfer, describing the process as crucial to enhancing Ethiopia's readiness to host COP32.
