By Faridat Salifu
The 20th session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) has ended in Nairobi, Kenya, with African ministers demanding clear financial commitments and fair treatment at COP30.
Ministers from 53 African countries called for increased and equitable climate finance to address worsening climate impacts across the continent.
They said Africa contributes the least to global greenhouse gas emissions but faces some of the worst effects of the climate crisis.
Despite this, they noted, Africa receives the lowest share of international climate finance.
The ministers urged developed countries to meet their responsibilities under the Paris Agreement and deliver on past promises, including the long-overdue goal of doubling adaptation finance.
They warned against relying on loan-based climate funding, which has worsened debt burdens across many African countries.
Instead, they called for new, grant-based and concessional financing models, along with technology transfer and development support for adaptation, just transition, and loss and damage.
The ministers stressed that reforming global financial institutions was key to aligning international funding with Africa’s development and climate priorities.
They urged that the Baku-to-Belém roadmap under the UN climate process reflect these realities, with COP30 expected to operationalise the $1.3 trillion finance target agreed in Baku.
Africa’s estimated adaptation finance needs alone stand at $845 billion between 2020 and 2035.
AMCEN leaders said any new finance goal adopted at COP30 must reflect this scale and meet the continent’s real needs.
They also called for the just transition agenda to be designed in a way that supports clean cooking and energy access for at least 300 million Africans.
Richard Muyungi, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators, said discussions on the Global Goal on Adaptation must be finalised at COP30 and linked to real finance and technology support.
He added that Africa expects strong backing for the preparation and implementation of National Adaptation Plans in all countries.
Muyungi also said a gender-sensitive and youth-inclusive approach to transition policies must be included.
Jacques Assahoré Konan, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition of Côte d’Ivoire, said Africa must go to COP30 with one united voice and push for simplified, direct, and fair access to finance.
He said Africa must be recognised as a provider of nature-based and sustainable solutions to the global climate crisis.
Christopher B. Kabah, Director of Planning and Policy at Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency, said COP30 must go beyond “speeches and symbolism” and deliver practical, measurable results.
Kabah added that Africa must also act at home by scaling up traditional knowledge and practices that have helped local communities survive and adapt for generations.
He said developed countries must show real accountability by cutting their own emissions and helping vulnerable countries respond to climate threats.
He stressed that for Africa, success at COP30 means climate justice, real partnerships, and urgent action to match the scale of the crisis.
AMCEN is the leading policy platform for African environment ministers and is expected to guide the continent’s unified position ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
