LUSAKA, 17th December 2025 — The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Green Energy and Environment (MGEE), has welcomed the outcomes of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30), noting that the decisions reached present significant opportunities to strengthen the country’s climate action, resilience, and sustainable development agenda.

Speaking at a Media Briefing to unpack the UN Climate Change Conference COP30, which was held in Belém, Brazil, between 10th and 21st November 2025, the Honourable Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Mike Mposha, MP, said that the outcomes are expected to increase Zambia’s access to adaptation finance, particularly in priority areas such as water security, agriculture, climate-resilient infrastructure, and biodiversity. The Conference also created enhanced opportunities for Zambia under the compliance carbon markets through Article 6 bilateral agreements signed by the Government, alongside greater prospects for forest conservation financing through the Tropical Forest Forever Facility initiative.

Focusing on “real implementation” COP30 strengthened national adaptation planning processes, including alignment with indicators under the Global Goal on Adaptation. Zambia also stands to benefit from opportunities for technology transfer and climate-smart industrialisation through the Belém Declaration on Green Industrialisation. The Conference further unlocked new business opportunities and partnerships, particularly for Zambian non-state actors who participated, while reinforcing Zambia’s position as a regional climate leader as the country prepares to host major global events such as the 2025 Global National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Expo and the 2026 Loss and Damage Fund Board Meeting.

To fully realise these benefits, which underscore the need to “move beyond pledges to concrete action, ensuring progress on limiting global warming to 1.5°C, boosting climate finance, and supporting vulnerable communities”, the Ministry has outlined a series of priority actions. These include the following up on all bilateral agreements and engagements; accelerating the development of bankable projects for submission to the Loss and Damage Fund and other climate financing windows; and strengthening national capacity for Article 6 implementation, including robust measurement, reporting, and verification systems.

The Ministry will also enhance preparations for hosting the meeting of the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage in April 2026, with a Local Organising Committee already constituted and scheduled to commence meetings shortly. Furthermore, national plans will be aligned to the new indicators under the Global Goal on Adaptation, support will be provided to the 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) revision process, and policy and legal reforms will be advanced in line with existing national frameworks.

In closing, the Government emphasized that COP30 marked a historic moment for both the global community and Zambia.

“While the outcomes are not without limitations, they represent meaningful progress in strengthening climate ambition, finance, and global solidarity”, said Honourable Mposha.

Zambia reaffirmed its commitment to playing a leading role in the multilateral climate process, while ensuring that communities, ecosystems, and key economic sectors benefit from global climate action.

During the same media briefing, UNDP Resident Representative, Dr. James Wakiaga (PhD) noted that UNDP was ready to support the Government of Zambia readiness needs to access green finance are addressed.

“For Zambia, these outcomes are particularly significant. Our communities are already experiencing the harsh impacts of climate change, from prolonged droughts to devastating floods. The commitment to mobilise $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for climate action, alongside strengthened adaptation measures, offers hope that resources will flow to countries like ours that need them most. With our doors open for partnerships, we should not wait or be left behind on climate finance. UNDP is at your disposal to ensure all readiness needs to access green finance are addressed” said Dr. Wakiaga.

COP30 brought together global leaders focused on implementing the Paris Agreement, strengthening climate action, and addressing issues like finance, emissions, and protecting the Amazon, aiming for a "COP of Truth" to accelerate solutions amid record warming. Key themes included scaling up adaptation

finance for developing nations, transitioning to renewables, and integrating Indigenous knowledge, with outcomes promising further action on climate justice and nature-based solutions.

COP30's main themes included:

i. Strengthen Global Climate Ambition, including preparation of enhanced 2035 nationally determined contributions (NDCs);

ii. Translate the first global stock take into accelerated actions on mitigation, adaptation and resilience;

iii. Mobilise and scale Climate Finance, particularly for developing countries;

iv. Advance solutions through the cop-30 action agenda, involving governments, private sector, indigenous groups and civil society;

v. Strengthen forest protection, biodiversity conservation and nature-based solutions;

vi. Promote inclusive participation, with a strong focus on youth, women, and indigenous peoples;

vii. Launch a global “mutirão for sustainability,” a collective approach to implementation inspired by Brazilian tradition.

Main Discussion Points

•  Adaptation finance tripling by 2035: Countries sent a political signal to triple adaptation finance from the current approximately us$26 billion to at least us$120 billion by 2035.
• Enhanced ambition for the 2035 NDC cycle: The “Belém Mission to 1.5°c” was launched to support countries in raising ambition and implementing the 2035 ndcs.it is accompanied by the global implementation accelerator, designed to address the gap between current targets and the mitigation needed to keep 1.5°c within reach.
• Adoption of 60 indicators for the global goal on adaptation (GGA): These indicators will enable countries to track progress in resilience-building. A decision was also made to develop a framework for assessing progress on National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
• Progress on article 6 of the Paris Agreement: Zambia signed a bilateral cooperation agreement with Switzerland under article 6, making Switzerland an off-taker of carbon credits from Zambian projects.
• Forest and nature-based solutions: Zambia endorsed the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, which received US$5.5 billion in pledges. This marks a new era of global forest conservation led by the global south.
• A new intergovernmental land tenure commitment: This commitment was also adopted to protect indigenous peoples and local communities across 160 million hectares.
• Initial call for funding proposals by the fund on responding to loss and damage: The fund for responding to loss and damage issued its first call for proposals.

Understanding that climate change is not a distant threat, but a lived reality UNDP Resident Representative said, “for Zambia, failure to act is not an option.”

Dr. Wakiaga reaffirm UNDP’s unwavering commitment to supporting Zambia in implementing the outcomes of COP30. “Together, we can ensure that global decisions translate into meaningful change on the ground, protecting lives, strengthening resilience, and ensuring that no one is left behind”.

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 Contact Information: 

Communications Analyst Mercy Khozi, mercy.khozi@undp.org.zm on 0966750787

 Programme Analyst Esther Nkomo, esther.nkomo@undp.org on +260 966494780

About UNDP: UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.