Africa demands debt relief and direct finance at COP31 Climate Summit
The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) has noted that the world’s transition away from fossil fuels cannot be called "just" if low- and middle-income nations must mortgage their economic futures to achieve it.
African leaders at the 31st UN Climate Summit in Antalya, Türkiye demanded debt relief and direct financial assistance to address their worsening economic crisis amid the climate transition. Recognizing that low- and middle-income nations cannot genuinely transition away from fossil fuels if it means burdening their economies, the African Group of Negotiators emphasized that COP31 must move from commitments to concrete actions.
They required three core demands: substantial climate finance, a shift from loans to grant-based finance, and climate funds channeled directly to African financial institutions. Facing a sovereign debt crisis, African nations are struggling to meet payment obligations, with over two-thirds of low-income countries already facing debt distress or at high risk.
Despite accounting for less than half of per capita greenhouse gas emissions, the region is experiencing severe weather disruptions and is dependent on international climate finance, much of which comes in the form of loans, worsening the debt problem. This debt burden prevents them from investing in clean energy transitions and adaptation.
African negotiators stressed that just economic development and climate action cannot be at odds, emphasizing that clean energy transitions should not come at the expense of essential services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
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