On the sidelines of COP30 during Africa Day, the African Union (AU) called for sweeping reforms to global carbon markets and a justice-based climate finance regime to rebalance long-standing economic inequities.
Musa Vilakati, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, spotlighted what he called a “structural injustice”: Africa holds nearly 20% of the world’s carbon sinks, yet receives less than 1% of the revenue from carbon trading.
Vilakati pressed that COP30 deliver concrete outcomes, including a restructuring of carbon market rules to better value Africa’s ecosystems, a scaling up of adaptation finance to at least $50 billion per year, and a major boost for nature-based solutions such as the Great Green Wall initiative.
He argued that these steps would help redress the imbalance where African countries generate critical climate benefits but reap little financial reward.
Relevant: African Development Bank Launches Initiative To Boost Carbon Credit Markets
In his remarks, he also emphasized the role of African youth, saying their innovation and ambition are key to ensuring a fair transition to a green and sustainable economy.
Vilakati urged the international community not to treat Africa merely as a recipient of aid, but to forge true partnerships that recognize the continent as an active architect of global climate solutions.
The call comes amid broader discussions of climate justice at COP30, where African leaders are increasingly challenging existing financial structures and demanding greater agency over carbon financing and resource governance.
Read more: COP30 Belém – Live Coverage
