On the occasion of Africa Day at COP30, the continent advanced the theme “Africa at the Forefront of Climate Action: Sustainable Finance for Green, Resilient and Inclusive Growth”, reaffirming its commitment to climate finance that works for people, the planet and prosperity.
The event, held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, in Belém, brought together ministers, development partners, as well as representatives the African Union Commission, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank Group and Afreximbank, alongside members of civil society and youth.
Ten years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, climate commitments are still struggling to meet the scale of the challenges that the world is facing. The objectives of limiting global warming are moving away, funding remains below needs, and the gap between promises and actions continues to widen. For Africa, which is home to 20% of the world’s emits less than 4% of greenhouse gases and receives less than 10% of adaptation funding and only 3% of global climate finance, the stakes are simply vital.
Building on the outcomes of the Second African Climate Summit, the Addis Ababa Declaration and the Africa Day at COP30 strongly reaffirmed a clear message: climate finance must be commensurate with the continent’s priorities and needs.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the The African Union Commission, Moses Vilakati, reaffirmed the unity of the continent and its leading role in the fight for climate justice.
“Africa speaks with one voice, strong, united and determined, for climate justice. From Africa to Belém, we reaffirm our unity of action and our leadership role, guided by the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities,” he said, adding: “We are not mere beneficiaries of the global transition, but fully active actors in the global transition. committed, bearers of just, inclusive and African climate solutions, to build a more equitable and sustainable global future.”
The discussions focused on mobilising sustainable, equitable and innovative financing to accelerate industrialisation continent. The leaders stressed that Africa’s future depends on the development of its natural resources, whether it is the processing of critical minerals or the development of renewable energy at the local level.
The African Development Bank Group Vice-President in charge of Power, Energy, Climate and Climate Kevin Kariuki, the Minister of Green Growth, said: “Africa is already at the forefront of global climate action, developing solutions that are firmly rooted in local realities and have international impact.”
He added: “We are moving forward today with a renewed vision, led by our President, Mr. Sidi Ould Tah, and structured around four strategic priorities called the ‘four points of the African Development Bank’ ‘Cardinals’: unleashing the power of African capital, strengthening the continent’s financial sovereignty, turning demography into an asset and building resilient infrastructure, while creating real added value.
“The fight against climate change is at the heart of this ambition. We are acting decisively to close the sustainable finance gap, increase the continent’s adaptive capacity and accelerate climate action through innovation, partnerships and financial leadership.”
Africa is among the world’s leading producers of critical minerals, such as cobalt and manganese, but still derives only a small share of the added value generated by their exploitation. By focusing on local processing, battery production and the development of regional value chains, the continent aims to move from being an exporter of raw materials to that of a driver of innovation and green industrial production.
Africa also has immense potential in the carbon market but currently captures less than 1% of global revenues. Through African-led reforms and governance, this market could generate up to $100 billion per year and create five million green jobs by 2030.
Participants stressed the urgency of rethinking the global financial system, by putting in place mechanisms direct, transparent and non-debt-based, designed and led by Africa itself. Despite the commitments made at COP29, only a small share of global climate finance is actually reaching African communities. The Day strongly reaffirmed the continent’s call to define a new collective and quantified climate finance target, commensurate with the urgency and concrete needs.
On behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Mr. Cosmas Milton Ochieng, Director of the Division Climate Change, Food Security and Natural Resources, said: “Restructuring the global financial architecture is not just a matter of equity, it is a condition for survival.
“Africa needs a predictable, transparent, and equitable climate finance system that directs resources to where they matter most: in the hands of African countries and communities driving transformative climate action.”
The call for sustainable domestic financing was also highlighted. The continent has more than $350 billion in sovereign wealth funds and pension funds, which could be mobilised to support green infrastructure, build resilience, and spur innovation. The development of these internal resources, combined with partnerships will be decisive in achieving Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Africa Day was not a simple commemoration, but a true declaration of intent.
Leaders called for fair carbon pricing, direct access to climate finance, and a transition so that no one in Africa is left behind. African countries call for full implementation of commitments made in Baku, including the mobilisation of $300 billion in dedicated climate finance to the continent.
COP29 in Baku failed to raise the resources needed to respond to the African climate crisis. Despite calls for an annual global target of $1.3 trillion by 2030, of which $300 billion goes to Africa, structural barriers remain. African leaders had defended non-generative subsidies and direct access to funds through African institutions, such as the African Development Bank Group.
However, the final agreement favoured a model based on debt and dependence on external intermediaries, turning nearly 60% of climate finance into new debt for African economies.
As the world now turns its attention to Belém, Africa’s message is clear: the continent is not asking for Charity, but a true partnership, a new global climate pact that recognises its leadership, values its contribution to the preservation of the planet and invests in its people.
About Africa Day
The Day is one of the continent’s flagship events at the United Nations Conference on Change Climate. It provides a platform to highlight the continent’s leadership role in climate action and advocate for equitable and sustainable access to climate finance. This maifestation embodies the common vision of African institutions: building a resilient, inclusive and sustainable future for the entire continent.