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Ethiopia bids to host the UN Climate Summit in 2027

Ethiopia announced its bid to host the United Nations Climate Change Summit in 2027, in Addis Ababa. This puts it in direct competition with Nigeria who wants Lagos as the host.

Nearly 200 nations gather every year for the "Conference of Parties", also known as COP, which is the primary global negotiation between governments to tackle climate change.

Ethiopian President Taye Selassie said at a U.N. conference in Addis Ababa, "We have the infrastructure, the facilities, and the location to host the much anticipated climate summit."

COP summits are rotated around the world. The 54 African countries that make up the U.N. regional group for Africa must decide unanimously who will host COP32 2027.

A country that preside over a COP Summit has a major role to play in guiding negotiations, and a chance for it to promote its own priorities.

African countries have demanded for years that COP meetings produce stronger financing deals to help them cope with the impacts of climate change, and to access capital to clean energy projects.

The host country can be scrutinized more closely for its pollution-producing industries and climate initiatives.

Ethiopia is the first country in the world to have banned the importation of non-electric cars as part of their push towards the goal of reaching net-zero emission by 2050.

Ethiopia has generated all its power from renewable sources since 2022. However, most of the energy is still derived from biofuels, waste and other forms of biomass, according to the International Energy Agency.

COP summits are usually agreed upon more than a calendar year in advance so that the host country has time to prepare for tens or even hundreds of thousands of delegates.

The preparations for this year's Summit in Belem have been overshadowed due to the rising accommodation costs. Poorer nations are warning that they will be priced out.

The two countries are competing to host the COP31 Summit next year. (Reporting and editing by Gareth Jones; Additional reporting by Hereward Netherlands)

(source: Reuters)