Participating nations at the ongoing COP30 climate summit in Brazil have agreed that Ethiopia will host the 2027 edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32) in its capital, Addis Ababa — a decision that saw the East African country edge out Nigeria for the hosting rights.
According to a Reuters report citing COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago, Ethiopia’s selection is expected to be officially confirmed on Tuesday.
The decision follows months of deliberations and competition between Nigeria and Ethiopia, both of which had launched bids to bring the global climate summit to Africa. Sources quoted by Reuters said the Bureau of African Countries unanimously endorsed Ethiopia’s candidacy.
Meanwhile, the host nation for COP31, scheduled for 2026, remains undecided, with Australia and Turkey still locked in contention. Australia has submitted its bid in collaboration with the Pacific Islands, a region highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Formal adoption of the 2026 and 2027 host countries is expected on Tuesday, though delegates have indicated no major opposition to Ethiopia’s selection.
COP summits are rotated among global regions, with this year’s edition taking place in Belém, Brazil — deep in the Amazon rainforest.
Corrêa do Lago urged member states in the “Western Europe and Others” group to resolve their dispute over the COP31 venue swiftly, warning that if the stalemate persists, the event may default to Bonn, Germany, where the UN climate agency’s headquarters is located.
