COP30 President: What Kenya stands to gain at this year's climate talks

In a few days, world leaders, global organisations, and climate stakeholders will gather in Belem, Brazil, for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).

This year’s summit will run from November 10–21, 2025.

At the centre of the talks are cutting carbon emissions, expanding forest cover, and the ever-pressing question of climate financing.

Brazil chose Belem as the host city because of its proximity to the Amazon rainforest, aiming to draw global attention to the forest’s key role in combating climate change.

Africa will be pushing for stronger commitments on forest restoration, compensation for pollution, and equal policy frameworks for all countries.

The summit also marks 10 years since the signing of the Paris Agreement. The UN has repeatedly warned that the world is not reducing emissions fast enough to meet its targets.

Then there’s the climate financing issue, with wealthier countries expected to support poorer countries to help them adapt to the escalating impacts of climate change, a long-running point of contention at past COPs.

For Kenya and East Africa, the stakes are high. Young Kenyans are increasingly demanding climate solutions that also create jobs in the green economy. Yet Africa receives less than five percent of global climate finance despite contributing under 4 percent of global emissions.

The Standard held an exclusive interview with COP30 President Andre Aranha Correa do Lago and COP30 CEO Ana Toni ahead of the summit

What are the most pressing climate change-related challenges facing East Africa today, and what should communities here be most concerned about?

The science tells us that climate change destabilises weather systems, intensifying rains, droughts, and other extreme weather events that already adversely affect people in this region. A warming climate disrupts farming and food systems, stresses critical resources like water and soil health, degrades ecosystems and biodiversity, and accelerates land degradation. These impacts threaten lives and livelihoods and must be addressed.

Which climate-related diseases and outbreaks pose the greatest threat to Kenya and the wider East African region?

Scientists tell us hanging temperatures and erratic rain patterns expand the reach and increase the potential of harmful diseases such as malaria and dengue. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called climate change the 'greatest health threat of the 21st century. “Left unchecked, it will continue to heighten risks to health systems, including straining the resources required to anticipate and respond to these outbreaks,” says Amb Correa do Lago.

Many Kenyans wonder what COP really achieves. Why should they care about COP30 in Belém, and how will its outcomes affect their daily lives? COP30 must mean more adaptation finance reaching communities, more investment in clean, decarbonised energy that lowers household costs, and stronger protection for vulnerable workers. Belem will be about ensuring the world accelerates what has been agreed to and delivers for those on the frontline of the climate crisis, including many families from countries like Kenya and Brazil.

Looking back at COP28 and COP29, what concrete outcomes have been implemented so far, particularly for Africa? COP28 delivered the decision to operationalise Loss and Damage (funds), and COP29 agreed on at least USD 300 billion per year by 2035 on climate finance for developing countries, increasing support for both mitigation and adaptation. These achievements open doors for African governments and civil society to push for resources that promote sustainable development, expand renewable access, and strengthen resilience. The challenge now is implementation and accelerating the delivery of what has already been agreed upon.

What opportunities does climate change present for Kenyan businesses, young innovators, and the green economy?

Kenya is already a leader in geothermal and clean energy innovation, with the vast majority of its electricity coming from renewable sources. Addressing climate change not only protects communities from its devastating effects, it is also a growth and development accelerator. It drives demand for sustainable infrastructure, resilient project development, and creates green jobs across sectors, from solar installations to climate-smart agriculture or technology adaptation.

For young innovators, it unlocks opportunities and opens pathways for solutions that can support local growth while offering the rest of the world the needed innovation. For businesses, the green transition is profitable.

With the US cutting funding for critical programmes, where will the money to support Africa’s adaptation and mitigation efforts come from?

Under the Paris Agreement, all finance flows, not just public budgets, must be aligned with low-carbon and climate-resilient development. That principle is central to the Baku to Belém roadmap, a document the COP30 and COP29 presidents will present in Belem showing paths to mobilise at least USD 1.3 trillion for climate action per year by 2035 from all public and private sources. Public finance remains essential, but today more than two-thirds of climate finance globally comes from the private sector, most of it outside Africa. At COP30, we are pressing both for reforms to international financial institutions to unlock cheaper loans and more grants, and for private capital to be steered toward Africa’s adaptation and resilience.

Can the climate change phenomenon still be prevented, or do we now adapt to a crisis we can no longer avoid?

“We must do both,” COP30 CEO Toni says. ‘Mitigate to prevent an increasingly dangerous future while adapting to the realities of a changing planet. The climate has changed, and many communities are living with those consequences every day. We must acknowledge this impact and increase our support for adaptation, including through greater investment in adaptation and resilience. At the same time, we must continue to do everything possible to accelerate efforts to decarbonize our economies and reduce emissions through mitigation. Every fraction of a degree of warming is significant in reducing and avoiding the worst effects of the climate emergency.

Has COP30 President André Aranha engaged directly with Kenya’s President William Ruto, who has positioned himself as a champion of Africa’s climate agenda? If so, what have they discussed, and if not, do you plan to meet him before Belem?                                                                     

President Ruto participated in a special high-level event on climate action co-chaired by President Da Silva and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The two also met in Addis Ababa last year.

At the time of publication, The Standard has learnt that Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has arrived in Belem ahead of the 3oth session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to represent Kenya at the talks.

On day one of the heads of state and government climate talks, UN chief Antonio Guterres and a series of national leaders said that the world will fail to keep global warming below 1.5 °C, the Paris Agreement's primary target, but said they have not yet given up on its fallback goal of 2 °C.