Pre-COP30 press briefing: Understanding the conflict blind spot in Africa’s climate finance

People living in conflict-affected regions — including many across Africa — are among the most vulnerable to climate change. 

Yet, in 2022, they received less than 10% of global climate finance. Despite growing awareness, funding still rarely reaches those who need it most.

This timely online conference, held one week before COP30, will explore:

• The funding gap: Why fragile and conflict-affected countries remain sidelined in global climate finance.
• Africa’s double burden: The continent faces both climate extremes and insecurity, yet struggles to access the support promised.
• Momentum for change: From the COP28 declaration signed by 90 countries to the first climate network for conflict-affected nations launched at COP29.
• The road to Belem: What COP30 negotiators, donors and governments can do to close the gap.

Join us to get ahead of one of the most urgent – and under-reported – climate stories at Belém and beyond. 

Featuring leading experts, and drawing on work from SPARC, a research programme that has spent six years advising countries and COP presidencies on how to scale up climate finance in places affected by conflict and protracted crisis.

Speakers:

• Yue Cao, research associate specialising in climate finance, ODI Global
• Habib Ur Rehman Mayar, deputy secretary general of the g7+, an intergovernmental organisation made up of conflict-affected countries
• A speaker from a member country of the IEACF Network – the first climate network representing countries affected by conflict and high levels of humanitarian need, created at COP29

How to attend:

This webinar is aimed at journalists who will be attending COP30, and who are based in or covering climate change in Africa. Please email c.king [at] odi [dot] org to receive a Zoom link and calendar invite.