As COP30 negotiations in Belém reach a critical turning point, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, held a strategic consultation with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to provide updates on Africa’s position and priorities.
Dr. Barasa, who is serving as Co-Facilitator on the Climate Finance track, reaffirmed her commitment to working alongside African ministers to strengthen the continent’s unified voice in the negotiations.
She emphasised that “Africa’s priorities must remain central to the global climate agenda, given the continent’s disproportionate vulnerability to climate impacts despite its minimal contribution to global emissions.”
During the briefing, Dr. Barasa outlined the current state of talks from an African standpoint, underscoring the urgent need for progress on climate finance, adaptation, and loss and damage. She reminded the Secretary-General that these are not theoretical policy discussions for Africa, but questions of justice, development and survival for millions already confronting severe climate shocks.
Dr. Barasa appealed for the Secretary-General’s continued support in amplifying Africa’s concerns within the COP30 process and pressed for stronger international commitments, predictable financing streams and faster implementation systems to meet the needs of at-risk nations.
She also conveyed her appreciation for his leadership and the trust placed in her through her facilitation role, noting that the responsibility reinforces her determination to advocate for the continent “with clarity, courage, and conviction,” as Africa continues pushing for outcomes that protect both people and the planet.
