COP30 is approaching: What PACJA will bring to Belém?

The pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) is set to take part in the 30^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) to be held in Belém, Brazil. From 10-21 November 2025.

For over a decade, PACJA ‘s leadership in championing African Climate Justice has been consistent. The presence at COP30 will amplify the continent’s unified voices, pushing for equitable climate action, finance and accountability from Global leaders.

For three decades, the world has been marking COPs; however, the stakes have never been higher. Africa continues to bear adverse impacts of Climate change through prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, floods, loss of biodiversity, among many other impacts, which continue to exacerbate poverty and threaten the livelihoods of African communities.

This has been a niche of PACJA’s advocacy, and the upcoming COP30 will offer another opportunity to intensify advocacy for fair, inclusive and justice-centred global responses that reflect the realities and priorities of African people.

Dr Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, indicates that, like other Global South Non-State Actors, the voice of PACJA is critical in influencing the conversations in Belém, Brazil, starting Next week.

He says that the work PACJA did in the past few months is the testimony of the consolidation of the African voice to which African leaders and negotiators would drive to advance the continent’s interests during COP30 negotiations.

“Over the past months, we have worked to consolidate the voices of youth, women, indigenous communities, and the labor movement in Africa. Our goal is to ensure that the demands and expectations of these groups are effectively represented by the African negotiators at COP, as outlined in the Andes Declaration. Says Dr Mithika before asserting that “there is no doubt that we have a very consolidated voice from below, from countries at continental level and at sector thematic level, to ensure”.

COP30 comes after African leaders, partners, diplomatic corps, and civil society convened for the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in September. PACJA, having led the Africa Nonstate Actors, anchored the messages consolidated from 16 Africa Nonstate Actors Clusters to continental leaders, pointing out what should be done in addressing the Climate Crisis in Africa. Click here to read key messages submitted Africa non-state actors for African leaders for ACS2.

A call to address the long-standing imbalances in global climate finance, trade, and debt governance has never paused. With GCAP and its partners, PACJA demonstrated at the launch of the Climate and Economic Justice Campaign towards COP30, that a new global architecture rooted in justice, equity, and the recognition of Africa remains an agency as stressed by Dr Augustine Ndjamshi, Chair of PACJA’s Political and Technical Affairs Committee of PACJA Board.

“It is profoundly unjust that Africans continue to bear the cost of crises they did not create. This historical imbalance must be acknowledged and redressed,” said Dr Augustine Ndjamshi during the launch of the Climate and Economic Justice Campaign led by PACJA and GCAP early this year.

 Through strategic engagement at COP30, including side events, dialogues, PACJA will use these platforms to provide an opportunity for grassroots actors to share their lived experiences, lessons and evidence of the transformative power of locally owned climate solutions, provide an opportunity for grassroots actors to share lived experiences, lessons, and evidence of the transformative power of locally owned solutions.

However, the locally led climate solutions should be financially supported. Therefore, at COP30, PACJA will continue to advocate for Climate Finance reforms and accountability mechanisms that ensure commitments made by developed countries translate into real support for vulnerable nations.

To learn about PACJA’s expectations for COP30, click here to watch the video.