The African continent held its first Climate Summit from September 4 to 6, 2023 in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The aim of the summit is to achieve "a common African position in the global climate change process up to and beyond COP28".

The summit was attended by Kenyan President William Ruto, several African and world heads of state and government, intergovernmental organizations, regional economic communities, UN agencies, the private sector, civil society organizations, indigenous people, local communities, agricultural organizations, children, youth, women and academics.

At the end of three days' work, the African leaders agreed on a joint declaration, "The Nairobi African Leaders' Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action", in which they recognize that "Africa is not historically responsible for global warming, but bears the brunt of its effects".

In the Nairobi Declaration, the heads of state and government urge "world leaders to rally behind the proposal for a global carbon tax regime, including a carbon tax on fossil fuel trade, shipping and aviation, which could also be augmented by a global financial transaction tax (FTT) to provide dedicated, affordable and widely accessible financing for climate-positive investments, and protection of these resources and decision-making from undue influence by geopolitical and national interests".

In conclusion, African leaders decided to "make the African Climate Summit a biennial event organized by the African Union and hosted by AU member states, in order to define the continent's new vision taking into account emerging global climate and development issues".