Africa: African Development Bank Group At COP31

What the report says

The African Development Bank Group says it will take part in the 31st UN Climate Change Conference, COP31, scheduled for 9 to 20 November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, with some activities also available online. In the announcement published by the bank and distributed by AllAfrica, the institution said its delegation will be led by Senior Vice President Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade and will use the conference to engage governments, development finance institutions, private-sector actors, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, youth and other international partners.

According to the bank, its focus at COP31 will include climate finance for Africa, adaptation and resilience, energy transition, nature and sustainable development. It plans to back African negotiators, promote Africa-led solutions, and highlight projects in renewable energy, water security, sustainable agriculture, urban resilience, ecosystem restoration and nature-based approaches. The bank also said it will use the event to strengthen partnerships and amplify Africa’s position in global climate discussions.

The African Development Bank said its main public-facing space will be the Africa Pavilion, under the theme “Turning Climate Commitments into Investments.” It will also participate in a joint multilateral development bank pavilion and an evidence-for-climate-action pavilion. These venues are intended to support dialogue on practical financing and policy solutions.

The announcement also frames COP31 as a stepping stone toward COP32, which will be hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2027. In broader terms, the bank’s message reflects a continuing effort by African institutions to link climate action with development goals, while seeking more investment for adaptation and resilience across the continent.