Tanzania is emerging as a key leader in Africa’s fight against climate change, showcasing its ambitious green energy initiatives and urging global partners to meet their climate finance commitments.
Vice President Dr. Philip Mpango highlighted the country’s efforts during the Second African Heads of State and Government Meeting on Climate Change held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“While Africa contributes less than four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, we are the most affected by climate change,” Dr. Mpango said.
“This calls for urgent support and strong leadership to advance green and resilient development across the continent.”he added
Dr. Mpango outlined Tanzania’s investments in renewable energy, including hydropower, solar, geothermal, and wind, while also using natural gas as a clean transitional energy source to drive industrial growth.
He underscored the country’s clean cooking strategy, aiming for 80 percent household adoption by 2034 to reduce reliance on biomass fuels.
Highlighting continental ambitions, the Vice President reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to providing electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030, as pledged during the Africa Energy Mission 300 Conference in Dar es Salaam earlier this year.
He also cited Tanzania’s Blue Economy policies in both Zanzibar and the mainland, which promote sustainable use of marine, coastal, and terrestrial resources, generate jobs, and strengthen resilience in fisheries, maritime transport, and tourism.
As chair of Africa’s Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) ahead of COP30 in Brazil, Tanzania is coordinating the continent’s unified stance to ensure Africa’s priorities finance, loss and damage, and climate justice are central in global climate talks.
“COP30 must deliver inclusive and equitable outcomes that benefit Africa and the world,” Dr. Mpango said.
Ahead of the summit, African leaders participated in a tree-planting exercise, symbolizing practical steps to tackle climate change.
The meeting, themed “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions and Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development,” followed the 2025 Africa Climate Week, which ran from September 1–6 to fast-track implementation of the Paris Agreement goals.
The summit brought together youth, private sector players, civil society organizations, and NGOs, highlighting a multi-stakeholder approach to climate action.
Dr. Mpango attended alongside Zanzibar’s Second Vice President Office Minister Hamza Hassan Juma; Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Cosato Chumi; Permanent Secretary of the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment) Eng. Cyprian Luhemeja; Tanzania’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Innocent Shio; and climate experts.
Through these initiatives, Tanzania is not only amplifying Africa’s voice on the global stage but also demonstrating concrete leadership in transitioning the continent toward green, resilient, and inclusive development.
