Ethiopia: Colours, Coffee And Hard Bargaining As Africa Makes Its Mark At COP31

What the report says

Africa is using COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, to project both culture and commercial interests, according to Bird Story Agency’s report republished by AllAfrica. Delegates from across the continent have brought traditional clothing, coffee displays and pavilions to the UN climate summit, while also pressing for a stronger role in global talks on energy, investment and industrial development. Ethiopia, which will host COP32 in Addis Ababa in 2027, has made its pavilion a showcase for its coffee ceremony, climate programmes and preparations for the next summit.

The report says African countries are highlighting critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, manganese and graphite as bargaining chips in discussions about the clean-energy transition. Governments want investment in processing plants, factories and power infrastructure so mineral-rich states can keep more of the value generated by these resources. That debate is linked to wider efforts to expand manufacturing under the African Continental Free Trade Area and to build regional battery and electric-vehicle supply chains.

Finance remains the main source of friction at COP31. African negotiators are seeking clearer delivery on adaptation finance and other climate funding commitments, but a proposal for a separate agenda item on adaptation finance did not win consensus at the start of the talks. The article says this leaves African states continuing to push for support through other negotiating tracks.

The broader backdrop is Africa’s electricity gap and the continent’s push for industrial growth. The COP31 presidency has also highlighted electrification, and development banks have announced a new finance coalition to mobilize power-sector investment. For African governments, the challenge is turning climate promises into practical funding for energy access, infrastructure and jobs.