COP30 unlikely to deliver climate finance for developing countries, says Nnimmo Bassey

Nnimmo Bassey, director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), says the ongoing conference of parties (COP30) is unlikely to deliver the climate finance developing countries urgently need.

Speaking with TheCable at the sidelines of the UN climate talks in Belém, Brazil, Bassey said wealthy nations have shown no real shift in their commitments despite worsening climate impacts across the global south.

He said developed countries are still avoiding clear obligations on the new collective quantified goal, the post-2025 finance target meant to replace the $100 billion pledge.

“I hate being a pessimist, but I don’t see much changing at this COP because those who created the climate crisis are still looking for ways to avoid accountability. Even the ambitious programmes in the adaptation fund largely depend on the victims,” Bassey said.

He added that the experience of indigenous people at COP30 reveals long running struggles for recognition in global climate governance.

Bassey said political commitments still lag, and that dominance of fossil fuel interests continues to weaken momentum for a just energy transition.

“This week we saw Indigenous Brazilians forcing their way into the venue because otherwise they would have had no space here,” he said.

“This alone tells you whether their voices are being heard. But their years of consistent struggle must be applauded. Indigenous peoples globally have become more organised and more articulate, and they have fought to secure references in many climate documents.”

He noted that a credible COP30 decision must include predictable, accessible and non-debt creating finance for adaptation, loss and damage, and transition efforts.

Bassey called on the federal government to halt new oil and gas licences, saying that opening fresh fossil fuel frontiers contradicts global climate goals and locks communities into long term harm.

“Africa cannot talk about transition while new fossil projects are being approved — it is self-defeating,” he said.

This report was produced with support from Sahara Group and the Kaduna state government