THE accelerating impacts of climate change are testing the effectiveness of global financing for adaptation and mitigation.
Developed nations continue to pledge support to developing countries, but gaps in delivery, structural inefficiencies and unequal access to resources raise questions about fairness.
For nations in the Global South, which contribute minimally to global emissions yet face disproportionate climate risks, these financing challenges carry significant economic and social consequences.
Scientific reports show that the planet has already warmed by 1.2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. The impacts of this rise are uneven.
Developed nations, which historically account for over half of all carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution, remain relatively shielded from extreme climate events.
“The issue is not whether these nations care about climate change, they do. The question is whether global systems allow them to respond on equal footing,” said Dr Hildebrand Shayo, economist and investment banker. “Equity in climate finance is critical.
Without predictable and substantial funding, adaptation measures in the Global South will lag behind both demand and necessity.” The countries contributing less than 1.0 per cent of global emissions are often the hardest hit.
For example, East African nations, including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Southern Sudan, collectively contribute only 0.14 per cent of global fossil CO₂ emissions.
Tanzania accounts for a mere 0.0441 per cent, Kenya 0.0559 per cent and Uganda 0.0196 per cent. Yet, these nations face floods, droughts and heatwaves that threaten lives, livelihoods and economic growth. Dr Shayo said the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) discussions revealed a persistent gap between promises and delivery.
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Developed nations continue to pledge financial support to assist developing countries in transitioning to renewable energy and climate adaptation.
However, many of these commitments remain unfulfilled, raising questions about accountability and the structures governing climate finance. Current financing mechanisms, including carbon markets, illustrate the challenge.
Thus, the East African Community (EAC) was presenting a united regional front at the 30th COP30 in Brazil, advocating for expanded access to climate finance for Least Developed Countries and vulnerable communities.
Representing all eight Partner States, the EAC delegation is attending COP30 with a shared position that promotes naturebased solutions, strengthens transboundary water cooperation and accelerates the implementation of national climate commitments through regional coordination.
EAC Deputy Secretary General Andrew Ariik, who was leading the delegation, stressed that regional cooperation is central to building climate resilience.
“Our united position ensures that Partner States speak with one voice on the global stage,” Mr Ariik said.
“COP30 is a defining moment for East Africa to demonstrate that regional cooperation is key to building climate resilience.” Renewable energy initiatives are expanding across Africa, but trade barriers, high costs and limited technology transfers constrain adoption.
While the European Union and multinational firms drive the green transition, many developing countries lack both the capital and policy frameworks to fully participate.
Fossil fuel projects, still supported by Western investment, continue to shape local and regional economic dynamics, complicating the path toward sustainable growth. Climate justice, as a business and policy imperative, requires redefining responsibilities.
Developing countries are not seeking charity; they seek agency in shaping solutions that align with their needs. Effective climate finance should be timely, predictable and linked to measurable outcomes that allow countries to invest in resilient infrastructure, sustainable agriculture and energy access.
“Developed nations must move beyond pledges and provide tangible financial instruments for adaptation,” Dr Shayo said. “Without structural reform, climate finance risks remaining an exercise in goodwill rather than a tool for real economic transformation.”
The EAC delegation’s highlight at the COP30 was the launch of the Preview Edition of the 2025 Lake Victoria State of the Basin Report, prepared by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), an EAC agency, with support from GIZ.
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The report provides comprehensive insights into the ecological health, socio-economic trends and governance of the Lake Victoria Basin, which supports over 45 million people across five Partner States.
The report also showcases results from German Technical and Financial Cooperation through the Water Information System (WIS), financed by BMZ via KfW under the Lake Victoria Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Programme, a 60 million project.
Speaking on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Julia Kronberg, Head of Development Cooperation in Tanzania and the EAC, emphasised the importance of data-driven climate action.
“Germany is proud to partner with the East African Community in promoting data-driven climate action,” she said. “We hope the report provides a sound basis for financing sustainable infrastructure projects, cross-border water management and climate adaptation measures that respond to real needs.” LVBC Executive Secretary Masinde Bwire added that the report will guide evidence-based policy and regional collaboration.
“The State of the Basin Report provides insights that are critical for policy and action. It strengthens transboundary cooperation and supports the communities who depend on Lake Victoria for their livelihoods,” Bwire said.
For Tanzania and its regional peers, participation in global climate summits is no longer symbolic. It is strategic. Decisions made in Belém and similar fora directly affect investment flows, insurance costs, infrastructure resilience and industrial planning.
Aligning climate policy with economic imperatives ensures that adaptation efforts do not stall, while also creating pathways for sustainable development and green.