Belém, Brazil | November 10, 2025
As COP30 opened in the Amazonian city of Belém, Brazil, the world’s leaders confronted a sobering truth – the planet is off track to limit global warming to 1.5°C, and the cost of delay is being borne disproportionately by developing nations.
The message from the opening ceremony was clear: the time for negotiations is over. This is the era of implementation.
A world confronting “moral failure”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a fiery speech, calling the world’s inability to stay within the 1.5°C target a “moral failure and deadly negligence.” He warned that even temporary overshoot would trigger irreversible damage – melting glaciers, collapsing ecosystems, and worsening hunger and displacement.
“We are playing with planetary fire,” Guterres said. “Every tenth of a degree counts, and every promise broken deepens inequality.”
His remarks resonated deeply with African delegates, who have long argued that climate inaction by industrialized nations is both unjust and immoral, given that Africa contributes less than four percent of global emissions but endures some of its gravest consequences.
Brazil’s balancing act
Host president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva used his opening remarks to position Brazil as both a protector of the Amazon and a champion of social justice, pledging to accelerate forest protection and green energy transition. Yet, Lula faces criticism for approving new oil projects, highlighting a tension that mirrors challenges across the Global South – balancing development needs with climate responsibility.
The symbolism of holding COP30 in the Amazon is not lost on observers. Indigenous leaders attending the summit called it an opportunity to put forest communities at the center of global climate decisions, a sentiment echoed by African civil society groups who see parallels in their struggles over land rights and conservation.
Africa aligns its message: implementation, not rhetoric
In the same spirit, Dr. Richard Muyungi’s earlier remarks on behalf of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) echoed throughout the plenary halls. His demand for “rapid, direct, and equitable access” to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) reinforced Guterres’s plea for action.
African negotiators see the Fund as a lifeline – not a handout — and a test of the world’s sincerity. With an initial USD 250 million allocation announced, Africa insists this must be only the beginning of a sustained, needs-based replenishment process.
Global finance and accountability in focus
The issue of climate finance dominated the opening day. Guterres proposed a credible path to mobilize US $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for developing nations, including US $300 billion per year as an interim milestone. Yet African delegates expressed caution. Past pledges have been broken or delayed, leaving vulnerable nations struggling to rebuild after disasters.
“Climate finance cannot remain a promise in PowerPoint slides,” one African diplomat told Sauti Kubwa in Belém. “It must reach our communities – in time, in full, and in fairness.”
Indigenous leadership and shared lessons
The voices of Indigenous and local communities featured prominently. Activists reminded delegates that their stewardship of land and forests remains the most effective climate defense. For Africa, where Indigenous knowledge and traditional conservation practices have sustained ecosystems for centuries, the message carries powerful resonance.
From Belém to Africa: A shared struggle for climate justice
In a powerful and emotional address at the launch of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) during the opening of COP30, Dr. Richard Muyungi of Tanzania, speaking on behalf of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), demanded that the new global climate fund must deliver real justice, rapid support, and fair access for African nations facing the worst effects of the climate crisis.
Representing Africa’s collective voice, Dr. Muyungi said the launch of the first call for proposals under the Barbados Implementation Modalities (BIM) marks not only an institutional achievement but also “a tangible expression of global solidarity.”
As the first day concluded, one theme bound all voices together – the world cannot continue with business as usual. Africa’s delegation, led by Dr. Muyungi, underscored that justice, not charity, must guide all climate action.
COP30, experts say, must mark the moment when rich nations stop talking about empathy and start transferring resources, technology, and trust.
“The world must move from promises to protection,” Dr. Muyungi declared earlier. “For Africa, climate action is not a choice. It is a fight for survival,” said Dr. Muyungi, emphasizing:
“We are now moving from negotiations to implementation, from commitment to delivery, and from sympathy to real action.”
A milestone born from Africa’s struggle
The FRLD – first agreed at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt – is the outcome of years of advocacy by developing countries, especially from Africa, demanding fair compensation for losses and damages caused by climate change.
With an initial allocation of USD 250 million for 2025-2026, the Fund’s launch marks the beginning of what Africa hopes will be a lasting mechanism for support.
However, Dr. Muyungi warned that this phase will be the true test of trust and ambition among developed countries. “For the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, the real measure will be whether resources reach those who need them most – rapidly, directly, and equitably,” he said.
Africa’s call: justice, not charity
Dr. Muyungi highlighted the urgency facing African communities suffering under worsening floods, droughts, cyclones, and coastal erosion. He painted a grim picture of lives and livelihoods destroyed, while reminding the world that Africa contributes the least to global emissions yet suffers disproportionately from their impacts.
“Our people are losing homes, livelihoods, and heritage,” he said. “For Africa, this Fund represents more than financial assistance – it is about justice, dignity, and survival.”
The AGN Chair outlined three priorities Africa expects the Fund to uphold:
Adequate and Predictable Resources – A robust, needs-based replenishment framework must sustain the Fund beyond the initial phase.
Institutional Coherence – The FRLD should work seamlessly with the Santiago Network and the Warsaw International Mechanism for coordinated action.
Equitable Access and Inclusivity – Simplified, transparent processes should ensure direct access to funds, especially for countries with weaker institutional capacities.
A call for accountability and delivery
Dr. Muyungi urged rich nations to honour their commitments and turn climate pledges into tangible results. “Africa stands ready to engage constructively,” he said, “but the success of this Fund will be measured not by its policies, but by its impact on the ground — by the protection and resilience it brings to our people.”
He emphasized that climate finance must not be treated as aid or charity but as a moral and historical obligation to those suffering from a crisis created elsewhere.
A turning point for climate justice
For Africa and the broader Global South, the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund represents a long-awaited victory – but also a challenge to ensure that it delivers justice, not bureaucracy.
At COP30, the message from Africa was clear: the time for empty promises is over. The world must move decisively from compassion to commitment, from words to work, and from promises to protection.
