At the 3rd African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) strategic meeting ahead of COP30, negotiators reaffirmed Africa’s shared vision that not only survives the climate crisis, but also shapes the global response to the existential threat facing humanity.
Speaking when he officiated at the event, Engineer Cyprian Luhemeja, Permanent Secretary in the office of the Vice President, United Republic of Tanzania, called on delegates to remain focused on Africa’s priorities.
“Expanding access to clean cooking, ensuring electricity for 300 million people, and securing climate finance grounded in grants, not loans, are not just aspirations—they are matters of justice, equity, and survival,” he said.
Africa’s Climate Priorities: A Matter of Justice
Africa’s climate agenda is no longer about pleading for support; it’s about asserting rights, leadership, and ownership. The continent’s priorities — from clean energy access to fair financing — are the foundation of a credible and implementable USD 1.3 trillion climate finance roadmap.
As the world looks toward COP30, African nations are determined to ensure that commitments translate into action. “This meeting reaffirms our collective determination,” he emphasised, “to ensure Africa’s perspectives are not only heard, but shape the outcomes of COP30.”
The meeting is set to deliberate on five pillars that define the continent’s negotiation stance for COP30, which include:
- Bridging global climate finance gaps
- Advancing a just and equitable transition
- Enhancing credibility and transparency in implementation
- Strengthening adaptation and resilience; and
- Promoting climate justice and restoring trust in multilateralism.
Meanwhile, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Tanzania representative, Clara Makenya, highlighted Africa’s resilience amidst the doom and gloomy picture of climate change.
“Africa also stands as a beacon of resilience, innovation, and opportunity. This meeting — dedicated to reviewing Africa’s priorities and negotiating strategies across key areas such as climate finance, adaptation, mitigation, and the just transition — is both timely and strategic. It reminds us that we must continue to negotiate not from a position of vulnerability, but from one of strength, unity, and ambition.”
Earlier, AGN Chair, Dr. Richard Muyungi welcomed delegates and set the scene for the final COP30 preparations to align with the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), the 2nd Africa Climate Summit Declaration and Committee of African Heads of State on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).
COP30 is scheduled to take place in Belem, Brazil, from 10-21 November, 2025. And Africa is not ready for anything else but accountability, equity, and inclusion.