As South Africa readies for the 30th Conference of the Parties COP30 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, government has reaffirmed its call for increased climate finance to support developing economies - emphasising that such assistance should not create new debt burdens.
"Developing-economy nations require scaled-up, predictable, and accessible funding for mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage. These must be in the form of grants and concessional finance, not new debt," Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dr Dion George said on Monday.
Addressing the COP30 National Stakeholder Consultation in Johannesburg, the Minister stressed that climate finance remains central to meaningful action.
"We expect the COP29 and COP30 Presidencies to present a well consulted plan that addresses the barriers developing-economy countries face in accessing climate finance.
"Developed-economy countries have a legal obligation under Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement to provide this support, and we will continue to uphold that principle," George said.
He said the New Collective Quantified Goal adopted at COP29 and the Baku-to-Belm Roadmap, which aims to mobilise 1.3 trillion dollars annually by 2035, must be turned into reality.
"We must also continue to press for reform of the global financial architecture so that it is fit for purpose and capable of supporting developing-economy nations to act decisively against climate change while achieving sustainable development.
"The world must move from promises to practice. Every decision in Belm must come with a plan for implementation, financing, and accountability. COP30 must deliver real outcomes for the planet, for vulnerable communities, and for future generations," the Minister said.
COP30 will take place in Belm, Brazil from 10 to 21 November 2025. This years conference will mark ten years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change.
"The operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund must be completed. It must be capitalised, accessible, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable nations, particularly in Africa. Technical and capacity-building support must accompany the fund so that developing-economy countries can avert and address loss and damage effectively," the Minister said.