Belem, Brazil, 11 November 2025 (ECA) - Africa marked Africa Day at COP30 under the theme “Africa at the Forefront of Climate Action: Sustainable Financing for Resilient and Inclusive Green Growth”, reaffirming the continent’s united call for a new era of climate finance that delivers for people, planet, and prosperity.
Held in Belem, the event brought together, Ministers, development partners, and African institutions including the African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Afreximbank, alongside civil society and youth representatives.
Ten years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, the global community faces a critical reckoning. Despite political commitments, global warming remains far off target, climate finance flows fall short, and the gap between promise and delivery continues to widen. For Africa, which hosts 20% of the world’s carbon sinks, contributes less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet receives under 10% of adaptation finance and only 3% of total climate funding, this shortfall carries existential consequences.
Building on the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) and the Addis Ababa Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action, Africa Day at COP30 amplifies the continent’s message: climate finance must work for Africa.
H.E Moses Vilakati, AUC Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment at African Day, gave a message reaffirming Africa’s united negotiating stance and leadership on climate justice. “Africa speaks with one voice bold, united, and leading on climate justice. From Africa to Belém, Africa stands united in purpose and action reaffirming its leadership on climate justice, grounded in equity and the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities. We are not passive recipients of the global transition but active architects of fair, inclusive, and African led climate solutions that shall shape a fair and green global future.”
Discussions focused on mobilizing sustainable, equitable, and innovative finance to accelerate Africa’s green industrialization. Leaders highlighted that Africa’s future lies in leveraging its abundant natural resources for value addition and local manufacturing from processing critical minerals to scaling renewable energy solutions.
“Africa already stands at the forefront of global climate action, shaping solutions that are both locally grounded and globally relevant”, said Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth of the African Development Bank Group.He added; ”Currently, we are driven by a new vision articulated by our President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, to sharpen the Bank's focus around four strategic priorities – referred to as the Four Cardinal Points to unlock Africa’s Capital Power; enhance the continent’s financial sovereignty; turn demographics into a dividend; and build resilient infrastructure, while adding real value.
Addressing climate change is central to this bold and ambitious agenda. We are therefore taking decisive steps to close Africa’s sustainable financing gap, strengthen Africa’s adaptive capacity, and to generally accelerate climate action through innovation, partnerships, and financial leadership.”
Africa is among the world’s leading producers of key minerals such as cobalt, manganese, and other critical raw materials, yet it captures only a small share of their final value. By investing in local beneficiation, battery manufacturing, and regional value chains, the continent aims to shift from exporting raw materials to becoming a global hub for innovation and green industrial production.
Africa holds immense untapped carbon market potential yet captures less than 1% of global revenue. With reforms and African-led governance, the market could generate up to USD 100 billion annually and create five million green jobs by 2030.
The discussions also underscored the need to reform global financial architecture, moving from debt-based models to direct, grant-based and Africa-owned solutions. Despite promises at COP29, only a fraction of global climate funds reaches African communities. Africa Day reinforced the call for a new collective quantified goal on climate finance that meets the scale and urgency of Africa’s needs.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the ECA, Cosmas Milton Ochieng, Director of Climate Change, Food Security and Natural Resources Division said that “ Reshaping the global financial architecture is not just a matter of fairness but a prerequisite for survival.” He added that “Africa needs a predictable, transparent, and equitable climate finance system that channels resources directly to where they are needed most: in the hands of African countries and communities driving transformative climate action.”
The call for sustainable domestic financing was equally strong. Africa holds over USD 350 billion in sovereign and pension funds that could be redirected toward green infrastructure, resilience, and innovation. Mobilizing these domestic resources alongside external partnerships will be key to achieving the continent’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Africa Day at COP30 was not merely a commemoration, it was a declaration of intent. Leaders called for fair carbon pricing, direct access to climate finance, and a just transition that ensures no African is left behind. African countries are calling for full implementation of the commitments made in Baku, particularly the mobilization of USD 300 billion in climate finance for Africa. COP29 in Baku fell short of delivering the resources needed to address the continent’s climate crisis. Despite calls for a global annual goal of USD 1.3 trillion by 2030, including USD 300 billion earmarked for Africa, systemic challenges remained unresolved. African leaders had urged for debt-free grants and direct access to funds through African institutions such as the AfDB. However, the final agreement favored loan-based financing and reliance on external intermediaries, leaving nearly 60% of climate funds as debt obligations for African economies.
As the world looks to Belem for delivery, Africa’s message is clear: the continent is not seeking charity but partnership, a global climate compact that recognizes Africa’s leadership, rewards its stewardship of the planet, and invests in its people.
About Africa Day at COP30
Africa Day at COP30 serves as the continent’s flagship event at the UN Climate Change Conference, offering a platform to highlight Africa’s leadership in climate action and advocate for equitable access to climate finance. The event embodies the shared vision of Africa’s institutions to build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for all Africans.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
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Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org