On 9 September 2025, on the margins of the Second African Climate Summit (ACS2) in Addis Ababa, the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC), the Franco-Gabonese Co-Facilitation of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP), and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of the Federal Republic of Germany jointly organized a side event entitled:
“Central African Forests at the Heart of Global Climate Action: Joint Action, Financing and Perspectives towards COP30.”
The session, held at the Team Europe Pavilion, brought together ministers, technical and financial partners, civil society representatives, as well as Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The goal was to strengthen the protection of the Congo Basin’s forest ecosystems—vital for global climate balance—through joint commitments, monitoring mechanisms, innovative financing, and greater mobilization of states, the private sector, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples.
High-Level Opening
The opening ceremony was co-chaired by:
- H.E. Dr. Bärbel Kofler, Parliamentary State Secretary, BMZ, Germany;
- Ambassadors Ms. Salina Grenet-Catalano and Dr. Aurélie Flore Koumba Pambo, Co-Facilitators of the CBFP on behalf of France and Gabon.
Concrete Solutions Shared
A solutions-oriented panel brought together experts from COMIFAC, CBFP, CAFI, Brazil, and Central African partner countries, alongside representatives of civil society, local communities, and Indigenous Peoples. This open space for exchange, accessible to all participants of the African Climate Summit, offered concrete pathways for enhanced collective action.
Closing Highlighted by Ministers
The closing session featured:
- H.E. Ms. Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin, Republic of Congo;
- H.E. Prof. Marie Nyange Ndambo, Minister of Environment, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Key Takeaways
Discussions highlighted:
- The central role of Congo Basin forests in global climate regulation;
- Sustainable economic opportunities linked to their conservation;
- The need for innovative and fair financing;
- The importance of joint mobilization of all stakeholders towards COP30 in Belém.
This event strengthened the international visibility of the Congo Basin and reaffirmed the shared commitment of countries and partners to make this region a cornerstone of global climate action.
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