Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – September 5, 2025 – The Asia Regional Dialogue of the Global Ethical Stocktake (GES) convened in Addis Ababa on Friday, bringing together leaders, activists, Indigenous representatives, and civil society to reflect on the moral dimensions of the global climate crisis.
GES: An Ethical Lens Ahead of COP30 in Belém
The GES, one of the central mobilization pillars ahead of COP30 in Brazil, introduces a moral and ethical perspective to urgent climate actions, complementing the scientific and technical imperatives of the Paris Agreement.
Its mission: ensure humanity not only understands what must be done, but also embraces the shared ethical responsibility to act.
The initiative unfolds through six Regional Dialogues, one on each continent, co-led by respected local figures to encourage inclusive participation. For Africa, the dialogue is co-led by Wanjira Mathai, Managing Director for Africa and Global Partnerships at the World Resources Institute (WRI).
Addis Ababa Hosts Diverse Voices for Climate Justice
Friday’s event gathered religious, political, and business leaders, alongside artists, activists, and representatives of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Among the guests of honor were Marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, and Wanjira Mathai, both emphasizing the urgent ethical considerations required for meaningful climate progress.
Wanjira Mathai: “The First Time People Consciously Address Ethical Climate Considerations”
Speaking at the Dialogue, Wanjira Mathai highlighted the historic importance of the GES:
“Under normal circumstances the COP presidency has a responsibility to deliver COP with a very clear agenda, and also to inject creativity… what we know for sure is that there are ethical issues, trust issues, values that are holding us back. We must have honest conversations about them, regionally.”
She added:
“This is the very first time that people get together to consciously think about the ethical considerations of why we are where we are. We are facing a crisis, but we don’t seem to be moving fast enough.”
Looking ahead to COP30, Mathai stressed:
“We will focus on implementation. We know everything that needs to be done. Now we need finance, creativity, and speed to act at scale. This is a forest COP, an implementation COP, going all the way to the Amazon to highlight forests and the communities that depend on them as central to solutions.”
Marina Silva: “We Need an Ethical Commitment to Use Technical Solutions”
For her part, Marina Silva emphasized the symbolic and substantive importance of the GES:
“Beyond a normal stocktake process, what was needed was a general ethical balance so that states, negotiators, and leaders could reflect on what’s happening across regions and territories. We already have the technical solutions. What we need is an ethical commitment to implement the decisions we’ve taken.”
Looking toward COP30 in Belém, Silva underlined the symbolism of hosting the summit in the Amazon:
“A COP in the Amazon has a very strong symbolism. The forests are important carbon sinks. But even if deforestation is eliminated, unless the world reduces emissions from carbon, oil, and gas, the forests will still be at risk.”
She also highlighted Brazil’s proposal for the Tropical Forest Forever Fund, aimed at channeling resources toward ecosystem services and bioeconomy initiatives, with operationalization targeted for COP30.
Key Takeaway: From Ethical Responsibility to Climate Action
The Addis Ababa Dialogue made clear: the world does not suffer from a lack of technical knowledge, but from a lack of ethical commitment.
As COP30 approaches, the Global Ethical Stocktake serves as a reminder that climate action is not only scientific and political—it is profoundly moral.
Emebet Asefa
