As COP30 unfolded in Belém, Brazil, civil society organisations from across Africa came together with a justice‑driven vision for global climate action, urging negotiators and world leaders to deliver equitable, people‑centred outcomes that address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on the continent and vulnerable communities.
In the lead‑up to the summit, a Pre‑COP30 African Civil Society Convening was held in Nairobi, bringing together diverse voices — including youth, women, grassroots groups, faith actors, and policy experts — to define Africa’s shared priorities ahead of the global talks and strengthen the continent’s unified position.
Out of this collaboration emerged the Africa Civil Society Position Paper for COP30, issued on 29 October 2025, outlining key demands for ambitious, equitable, and transformative climate action. These demands focus on principles of justice, human rights, and community empowerment that civil society representatives say must form the backbone of global climate policy.
Key priorities highlighted by African civil society include:
• Transformative climate finance — urging grant‑based, accessible funds over debt‑creating loans, with transparent tracking and new financial mechanisms.
• Loss and damage action — operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund with rapid, responsive support for climate‑affected communities.
• Adaptation and resilience — calling for a post‑2025 adaptation finance target that at least triples support by 2030, with gender‑responsive, community‑led implementation.
• Just and inclusive energy transition — demanding clear timelines for phasing out fossil fuels, enhanced technology transfer, and community ownership models.
• Biodiversity and nature‑based solutions — ensuring direct financing and recognition of Indigenous and local community stewardship.
• Equity in climate cooperation — protecting human rights and ensuring inclusive participation through transparent and accountable processes.
• Gender justice and youth inclusion — embedding gender equity and intergenerational participation across climate governance and reporting.
• Systemic climate justice reforms — including calls for transparency, anti‑corporate capture measures, and recognition of Africa’s ecological debt.
African civil society leaders emphasise that climate action must move beyond rhetoric to deliver tangible justice and equity for communities on the frontlines of climate impacts. With the continent contributing the least to global emissions but facing severe climate vulnerabilities, their call to action reinforces Africa’s moral authority in shaping global climate outcomes.
As world leaders prepare for future negotiations, including COP31, African organisations say these justice‑centred demands must be integrated into climate policies, finance mechanisms, and implementation frameworks to ensure that climate action is fair, effective, and truly inclusive.
