NAIROBI, KENYA – The 30th United Nations Climate Change conference (COP30) officially commenced in Belém, Brazil, on Monday, 10 November 2025, with negotiators swiftly adopting the formal agenda, paving the way for critical discussions on global climate action. For Kenya and the wider East African region, the summit is a pivotal moment to demand accountability on climate finance and accelerate the implementation of past commitments.

The talks, hosted in the Amazon rainforest, opened under the leadership of Brazilian diplomat André Corrêa do Lago, who promised a “Cop of Truth.” The rapid adoption of the agenda was a deliberate move by the Brazilian presidency to avoid the procedural delays that have plagued previous summits. However, the consolidation of certain items has raised concerns among observers that key issues for developing nations, particularly climate finance, could be sidelined.

Kenya's Stake: From Victim to Solutions Provider

Representing President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is leading the Kenyan delegation, renewing the country's call for clear timelines to phase out fossil fuels. This position is central to Kenya's strategy, which seeks to reframe the continent's role from one of victimhood to a key player in providing global climate solutions. This narrative, building on the momentum of the Africa Climate Summits held in Nairobi (2023) and Addis Ababa (2025), positions Africa as a destination for green investment, not aid.

Kenya's ambitious climate plan, submitted to the UN in April 2025, commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2035. However, this target is heavily conditional, with the government stating that 80% of its implementation depends on receiving international financial support, technology transfer, and capacity building. This underscores the critical importance of the finance negotiations in Belém for Kenya's national development and climate goals.

The urgency is compounded by the severe climate shocks battering the region. Recent years have seen devastating cycles of drought and flooding, with a February 2025 report indicating that 2.15 million Kenyans faced acute food insecurity following failed rains, while floods in 2024 affected over 100,000 households. These events highlight the immediate need for adaptation funding to build resilience in vulnerable communities.

The Battle for Climate Finance

Climate finance is the central battleground at COP30 for the African Group of Negotiators. Having been left short-changed at previous summits, African nations are pushing for the full operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund and a significant scaling-up of adaptation finance. The continent's adaptation needs are estimated at $70 billion annually, yet it received only a fraction of that in recent years.

Negotiators will focus on the “Baku to Belém Roadmap,” which aims to mobilize at least $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for developing countries. This figure is seen as a more realistic assessment of needs compared to the unfulfilled pledge of $100 billion annually made by developed nations in 2009, a goal that was only met for the first time in 2022. African leaders are demanding that new financial commitments be delivered primarily as grants, not loans, to avoid exacerbating the continent's debt crisis.

The discussions will also seek to finalize the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), establishing clear indicators to track progress on reducing climate vulnerability. For Kenya, a robust GGA framework is essential for channeling funds to locally-led adaptation projects, in line with its National Climate Change Action Plan.

Global Context and Geopolitical Divides

The opening day of the summit highlighted existing geopolitical tensions. Tuvalu's climate minister, Maina Vakafua Talia, sharply criticized the United States for its past withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, while Pakistan’s climate secretary, Aisha Humera, described the climate crisis as the biggest human rights violation of our time. The notable absence of high-level US officials on the first day was widely interpreted as a signal of continued divisions among the world's largest historic emitters.

A group of 25 UN special rapporteurs issued a joint statement calling for “full compliance” with international law, referencing the landmark International Court of Justice ruling in July that recognized climate obligations. This adds pressure on negotiators to produce legally sound and enforceable outcomes, rather than just pledges.

As the talks proceed over the next two weeks, the Kenyan delegation, in concert with the East African Community and the broader African Group, will continue to advocate for a just transition. This includes not only phasing out fossil fuels globally but also ensuring that Africa's vast renewable energy potential and critical mineral resources are leveraged for the continent's own green industrialization, rather than solely for the energy transitions of developed nations. The success of COP30, from a Kenyan perspective, will be measured not in promises, but in the delivery of accessible, predictable, and adequate finance to secure a resilient future.