WWF urges a bold Belém Package for Africa to keep the 1.5°C goal alive
With COP30 underway in Belém, Brazil, the World Wide Fund, WWF, says the conference should respond with fair finances to Africa for bringing solutions to the table.
In a press release, WWF states that as the world marks ten years since the Paris Agreement, WWF is urging leaders at COP30 to deliver a bold and equitable “Belém Package for Africa”. By pledging to strengthen national climate plans, raising at least $1 trillion in climate finance each year, assisting communities already affected by climate change, guaranteeing a decent transition to sustainable energy, and stopping deforestation, this must balance climate ambition with justice. “Africa is bringing solutions to the table – now COP30 must respond with fair finance and concrete implementation,” said Durrel Halleson, Head of Policy and Partnerships for WWF Africa.
Africa has enormous potential for renewable energy, climate-smart food systems, globally significant forests, and a long history of community-led resilience, all of which are potent remedies for the continent’s harsh shocks. Africa’s leadership must be matched with genuine commitments and funding at COP30. Yet, climate consequences are getting worse despite advancements since 2015, and global action is lagging.
Key Demands
WWF calls for a new generation of national climate plans, “NDCs 3.0”, that are science-aligned, economy-wide, and nature-positive. These must be ready for implementation and backed up by predictable financing and transition strategies.
WWF urges the full operationalisation of the Baku–Belém roadmap to mobilise $1.3 trillion annually, including doubling adaptation finance and properly resourcing the Loss and Damage Fund.
A just and inclusive energy transition is also essential. WWF emphasises the importance of scaling up decentralised renewable energy systems and building resilient power grids to achieve universal access to electricity and clean cooking by 2030. This transition must safeguard biodiversity and uphold the rights of communities affected by energy and critical mineral projects.
On adaptation, WWF calls for the adoption of practical indicators to track progress under the Global Goal on Adaptation, the acceleration of National Adaptation Plans, and the integration of inclusive, ecosystem-based approaches into national strategies.
Focus on the Congo Basin
The Congo Basin is a global climate stabiliser, storing vast carbon, regulating rainfall, and supporting millions of livelihoods. Yet it remains underfunded. WWF calls for formal recognition and dedicated financing, including high-integrity forest finance and equitable benefit-sharing with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).
“Protecting the Congo Basin is non-negotiable if the world is serious about limiting warming to 1.5°C,” said Laurent Some, WWF Regional Director for the Congo Basin. Justice delivered through land, rights, and finance. WWF emphasises the need to protect IPLC rights, ensure direct access to climate finance, secure land tenure, and support community-led solutions. Carbon markets must be transparent, equitable, and deliver real benefits for people and nature. “Belém must be the moment we replace incrementalism with implementation,” said Halleson. “With clear finance, stronger NDCs, and nature-positive action, COP30 can deliver a resilient, just, and sustainable future—for Africa and for all.”