African CSOs Demand Climate Justice and Fair Climate Finance as COP-30 Continues

By Thuku Kariuki - As climate leaders gather in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-30), African civil society organizations (CSOs) are raising their voices louder than ever. They demand climate justice, fair financing, and accountability from the world’s wealthiest nations. The message from Africa is clear: no more pledges without progress.

Last month, dozens of African CSO representatives met in Nairobi to plan for the global summit. They spent two days in intense discussions and identified key priorities for Africa’s negotiators. These include securing debt-free climate finance and phasing out fossil fuels urgently. Their declaration, released before COP-30, reflects growing frustration with years of unmet commitments.

“As Africa’s civil society, we stand united in demanding that COP-30 deliver transformative, people-centered outcomes grounded in justice, equity, and human rights,” the statement asserts. “Climate action must move beyond pledges to address the structural injustices that keep Africa vulnerable.”

Africa contributes the least to global greenhouse gas emissions but suffers the most from climate impacts, experiencing floods that destroy livelihoods and droughts that kill crops. Many governments in Africa face limited funding and rising debt, making it hard to invest in adaptation or recovery.

CSO leaders argue that developed nations must take responsibility for their large role in the climate crisis. They want these countries to meet and increase their financial commitments, ensuring that funds reach the communities most affected by the climate emergency.

They are also calling for a UN Tax Convention that would democratize global tax governance. This would hold multinational corporations accountable and help developing nations reclaim resources lost due to illegal financial flows.

One of the boldest demands from African activists is for COP-30 to officially recognize the $36 trillion ecological debt owed to Africa by industrialized nations. This debt stems from centuries of exploitation and pollution.

The CSOs want the Baku-Belém Roadmap, a process leading into COP-30, to go beyond procedural talks. They expect it to produce binding financial commitments that align with the Paris Agreement. They insist that climate finance must be based on grants, transparent, and adaptable, supporting national adaptation plans and community-led efforts, rather than adding to debt.

Another major issue is the slow global progress in phasing out fossil fuels since COP-28. Many countries have turned back, reinvesting in coal and oil despite clear evidence of harm. African CSOs say COP-30 must establish clear timelines and milestones for ending fossil fuel use and subsidies. Developed countries should take the lead and provide support for Africa’s shift to renewable energy.

The Nairobi caucus also warned that the rush for critical minerals, such as lithium and cobalt, could replicate exploitative systems that hurt African communities while benefiting foreign corporations. “Profit has never been a good partner in humanitarian efforts,” noted one delegate during the Nairobi discussions. “Africa’s transition must be just, fair, and people-centered.”

For African CSOs, finance is just one demand. They also call for technology transfer, community ownership, and inclusive participation in all energy and food transition plans. Their declaration urges world leaders to adopt a global framework to end deforestation and ecosystem degradation while promoting sustainable land use. Africa’s forests, wetlands, and mangroves are essential for global climate stability and must be protected for the benefit of both people and the planet.

They emphasize the need for COP-30 outcomes to recognize the specific vulnerabilities of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. These groups often face the worst effects of climate change but are frequently left out of decision-making processes.

Above all, the organizations demand accountability. They want all COP commitments to be supported by independent audits, human rights standards, and enforceable mechanisms that allow progress to be measured, not just announced.

Africa’s civil society has prepared thoroughly. With their Nairobi strategy paper as a checklist, they are now closely monitoring the negotiations in Brazil. Their message to African delegates combines encouragement and expectation: negotiate boldly and remember the millions of Africans whose lives depend on real climate action.

“This must be the moment Africa shifts from words to results,” the Nairobi statement concludes. “Our people cannot live on promises.” As the discussions continue through November 21, the world will see if COP-30 delivers what Africa has long sought: justice, fairness, and action that turns climate commitments into tangible change.