The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has welcomed the outcomes of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
COP30 closed with the adoption of the Belém Political Package, with key outcomes related to the new NDCs, bolstering climate finance and a mechanism for the just transition.
The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP30, was held in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025. It resulted in the adoption of the Belém Political Package, including key outcomes related to the Nationally Determined Contributions, bolstering climate finance and a mechanism for the just transition.
“We are ready to work with all parties to ensure the decisions taken at COP30 translate into action. Our local climate change instruments already enable robust domestic climate action, and support our international obligations,” the minister said.
This year’s COP focused particularly on the new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which present the climate action plans of each country to meet the terms of the Paris Agreement.
Under the Belém Political Package, the ‘Global Mutirão’ is intended to drive global implementation and acceleration to support countries in delivering their NDCs and national adaptation plans.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy-Director General and South Africa’s Chief Negotiator at COP30, Maesela Kekana, noted the decision to establish a two-year work programme on climate finance, including the provision of finance to developing countries.
Additionally, the COP called on developed countries to triple adaptation finance by 2035 and to increase the trajectory of their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing countries.
“However, we remain concerned that the base is low – and the scope too small to meet the adaptation needs of developing countries. Nonetheless, South Africa welcomes the guidance to triple finance flows to adaptation funds, the calls for an ambitious and successful replenishment of the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, and calls for increased pledges to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage,” Kekana said.
South Africa also advocated robustly for the adoption of a mechanism for the implementation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Just Transition Work Programme decision. The parties agreed to develop a just transition mechanism to enable just transitions and enhance international cooperation, technical assistance, capacity building and knowledge sharing.
Minister Willie Aucamp said: “We reaffirm our commitment to equity, ambition, and international cooperation in addressing the climate crisis. We congratulate our team of negotiators for their resilience and commitment to driving action-driven talks.”
For more information visit: www.sanews.gov.za