By Abbas Nazil
World leaders, climate experts, and activists are gathering in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP30, to discuss ways to curb the escalating effects of climate change.
The annual summit aims to strengthen global cooperation against human-induced climate challenges that continue to endanger billions of lives.
Africa has hosted the UN Climate Summit, also known as COP, a total of five times.
The host countries include Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt, with Morocco hosting twice — in Marrakesh (COP7 in 2001 and COP22 in 2016), South Africa (COP17 in Durban, 2011), Kenya (COP12 in Nairobi, 2006), and Egypt (COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, 2022).
It is likely that another African country will host the summit again soon, as the event rotates annually among the five UN regional groups.
The first Conference of the Parties, COP1, was held in 1995 in Berlin, Germany, following the establishment of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Experts warn that despite growing awareness, the world is veering off track from meeting climate goals set in previous agreements.
For African nations, the spotlight will likely be on climate finance, adaptation support, loss and damage funding, renewable energy transition, and sustainable agriculture.
At COP30, Africa is also expected to push strongly for land restoration and nature-based solutions as key pillars of its climate adaptation agenda.
Land and agriculture have emerged as the continent’s most powerful tools for tackling climate change, with experts urging that they take center stage at the global summit.
For decades, agriculture, forestry, and other land uses have accounted for nearly 62% of Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions, while land degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss continue to weaken the continent’s resilience.
During the Africa Climate Summit held in Addis Ababa in September 2025, African policymakers agreed that land must anchor the continent’s climate priorities.
They emphasized that restoring land, managing forests, and investing in soil carbon restoration are essential for building resilience and ensuring food security.
Belém, located at the gateway of the Amazon, is expected to spotlight the crucial role of Indigenous peoples, forests, and agriculture in mitigating climate impacts.
The Brazilian government is launching a new initiative, the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, to financially reward countries that protect tropical forests.
However, the success of the program will depend on the level of global financial support it attracts.
Logistical challenges have also marked preparations for the summit.
Concerns were raised about the city’s capacity to host tens of thousands of delegates, with some attendees resorting to cruise ships and makeshift accommodations.
The Brazilian government, however, insists Belém’s setting reflects the real impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities.
This year’s meeting comes a decade after the landmark Paris Agreement, which sought to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Since then, global temperatures have increased by about 0.46 degrees Celsius, a sharp jump that scientists say threatens to derail the Paris goals.
While renewable energy progress offers hope, experts note that most countries’ climate plans remain insufficient.
No new major deal is expected at COP30, which has been dubbed the “implementation COP,” focusing on fulfilling past promises and boosting adaptation funding.
Former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres emphasized that success will depend on real action rather than new pledges.
Many, however, remain skeptical, fearing the talks may end without meaningful results.
Peter Akong Minang, a senior researcher at the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), said COP30 must place sustainable land management and land restoration at the heart of the climate agenda.
He stressed that healthy soils, forests, and ecosystems are not side issues but the foundation for economic growth and resilience against climate disasters.
Agriculture employs over two-thirds of Africa’s labor force and contributes about 30 to 40 percent of the continent’s GDP.
Yet, droughts, floods, and erratic rainfall linked to climate change are eroding farmlands and threatening livelihoods.
More than half of Africa’s population relies on rain-fed crops, making them highly vulnerable to extreme weather events.
Nearly half of the continent’s land is already degraded, reducing agricultural productivity and affecting around 500 million people.
Forests such as the Congo Basin and Guinean forests are disappearing rapidly, depriving communities of food, fuel, and income.
Only 16% of Africa’s annual US$44 billion climate finance currently supports land or nature-related initiatives.
Experts say this must increase to fund major land restoration projects like agroforestry, reforestation, and sustainable soil management.
The Addis Ababa Declaration at the 2025 Africa Climate Summit officially made land and nature-based solutions central to Africa’s climate strategy, marking a major shift from previous declarations.
Africa must now focus on three critical areas—climate-smart water management, transition to a green circular bioeconomy, and investment in research and technology to drive innovation in land-based solutions.
African negotiators at COP30 are expected to advocate for a legally binding Global Goal on Adaptation to ensure stronger commitments and funding for adaptation initiatives.
They are also pushing for international recognition of projects that use forests, soils, and land-based methods to cut carbon emissions.
Such recognition could unlock billions in carbon market revenues, create millions of green jobs, and help repair degraded landscapes.
Experts insist that local farmers and communities most affected by climate change should have direct access to climate finance.
Empowering them to adopt sustainable land-use practices, restore degraded lands, and protect ecosystems will be crucial for achieving lasting climate resilience across the continent.
As COP30 unfolds in Brazil, the world watches to see whether nations will move beyond rhetoric and deliver the urgent action needed to secure a livable planet for all.
