Policy Updates

A year-long campaign led by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has secured EUR15.5 billion (US$18.0 billion) to mobilize investments in renewable energy across Africa, along with additional commitments in clean energy generation and household electricity access, announced on November 21, 2025.

The EU led the pledging effort with more than EUR15.1 billion (US$17.5 billion), including contributions from multiple EU member states including Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Austria, and Ireland, as well as significant bilateral contributions by European financial institutions and development finance institutions, and estimated mobilized private investment. Alongside the campaign, the African Development Bank has pledged to allocate at least 20% of their 17th replenishment to renewable energy.

The campaign, organized in collaboration with Global Citizen and with policy support from the IEA, aimed to drive public and private investment in supporting Africa's clean energy transition, expand electricity access, and promote sustainable economic growth and decarbonized industrialization. The effort represented a step toward accelerating the global transition from fossil fuels to clean and sustainable energy.

Von der Leyen stated that the investment would turbocharge Africa's clean-energy transition, providing millions more people with electricity access and creating opportunities for thriving markets, new jobs, and reliable clean energy.

On November 20, 2025, Germany committed EUR1 billion (US$1.2 billion) over 10 years to the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, a new rainforest protection fund launched by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at COP30 in Belém.

German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider and German Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan announced the pledge at the climate conference. Brazil's Environment Minister Marina Silva welcomed Germany's contribution, stating it demonstrated the fund was a well-structured climate protection instrument. Martin Kaiser, Executive Director of Greenpeace Germany, praised the political signal but called for conditions ensuring the fund's investments avoid climate-harmful sources.

The fund aims to reach US$125 billion and distribute US$4 billion annually to countries protecting tropical forests, with penalties for deforestation verified by satellite imagery. The World Bank serves as trustee, with governance by an 18-member executive council split equally between tropical forest countries and industrialized nations. Norway pledged US$3 billion over 10 years, while Brazil and Indonesia each committed US$1 billion. Founding members include Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

On November 17, 2025, German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider pledged EUR60 million (US$70 million) to the Adaptation Fund at the COP30 conference in Belém, Brazil, maintaining Germany's position as the fund's largest donor since 2007.

Schneider stated the funding would support vulnerable countries in adapting to climate change, particularly protecting coastal populations from extreme weather events. Germany had announced an identical EUR60 million (US$70 million) contribution at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2024. The Adaptation Fund has deployed approximately US$1.4 billion across 200 projects in 108 countries, reaching over 50 million people since its establishment in 2007.

Schneider reaffirmed Germany's commitment to the COP29 agreement requiring industrialized nations to mobilize US$300 billion annually by 2035 for climate action. Germany provided EUR6 billion (US$7.0 billion) from the federal budget and EUR12 billion (US$13.9 billion) total for climate financing in 2024. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had previously indicated Germany would contribute a substantial sum to Brazil's Tropical Forest Fund, which rewards forest conservation and penalizes deforestation.

The Tropical Forest Forever Facility secured endorsements from 53 countries and financial commitments exceeding US$5.5 billion launched at the COP30 Leader's Summit in Belém, Brazil, on November 6, 2025, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The TFFF Launch Declaration received endorsements from 53 countries, including 19 potential sovereign investors. A total of 34 tropical forest countries endorsed the declaration, representing over 90% of tropical forests in developing countries, including Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and China.

Countries announced the following financial commitments:

• Norway committed US$3 billion over the next 10 years, subject to specific conditions;
• Brazil and Indonesia reconfirmed commitments of US$1 billion each;
• France indicated that, under specific conditions, it would consider committing EUR500 million (US$578 million) until 2030;
• Portugal committed US$1 million;
• Netherlands committed US$5 million for the secretariat; and
• Germany fully endorsed the TFFF, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz scheduled to discuss financial commitments with President Lula.

The TFFF is a shift in global efforts to protect and restore tropical forests. The facility will address a market failure while recognizing the value of and paying for ecosystem services provided by tropical forests to the world.

On September 29, 2025, the German government announced it provided a record EUR11.8 billion (US$13.8 billion) in international climate finance in 2024, meeting its annual pledge with EUR6.1 billion (US$7.2 billion) from the federal budget and mobilizing over EUR1 billion (US$1.2 billion) in private funding for the first time.

The total amount represents Germany's contribution to the international commitment of US$100 billion annually from industrialized nations. The EUR6.1 billion (US$7.2 billion) from the budget, an increase from EUR5.7 billion (US$6.7 billion) in 2023, was primarily funded by the BMZ at 79%. The remaining funds came from the IKI.

Mobilized funds totaled EUR5.7 billion (US$6.7 billion), which included EUR4.6 billion (US$5.4 billion) in market-rate loans from development banks KfW and DEG. Notably, private funding mobilized for climate investments more than doubled, reaching over EUR1 billion (US$1.2 billion) compared to EUR475 million (US$556 million) in 2023. Approximately EUR1.5 billion (US$1.8 billion) of the budget funds were allocated to climate-related biodiversity projects. The announcement was made ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

On September 19, 2025, the JICA distributed its first installment of a US$61 million loan agreement with Masdar IPH Wind S.A.E for a 200MW wind farm in Ras Ghareb, Egypt.

The project aims to increase the renewable electricity supply in Egypt and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The financing is co-financed with the EBRD, PROPARCO, and the GCF.

The project includes the construction and operation of the wind farm, as well as transmission lines and substation facilities. The borrower, Masdar IPH Wind S.A.E, has a PPA with the EETC for the full purchase of the electricity generated, guaranteed by the Ministry of Finance of Egypt.

On September 19, 2025, the UN treaty to protect the high seas reached its required 60-ratification threshold after Morocco and Sierra Leone formally joined, clearing the way for its entry into force in January 2026.

The BBNJ agreement was adopted in June 2023. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the ratification a historic achievement. UN Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen also welcomed the development.

The agreement establishes legally binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in the two-thirds of the ocean beyond national boundaries. The framework aims to create marine protected areas, ensure fair sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources, and strengthen scientific cooperation. Its entry into force on January 17, 2026, will support the GBF pledge to protect 30% of sea areas by 2030. Guterres urged all remaining Member States to join the treaty.

On September 18, 2025, the Verata Nursing Station in Fiji officially reopened following major climate-resilient renovations and the installation of solar power, funded by the KOICA.

The upgrades were completed under the multi-year SHAPE, which is implemented in partnership with the WHO and the MHMS. The project aims to ensure Fiji's health system can keep people safe amid growing climate-related threats such as stronger storms and floods.

Minister for MHMS Hon. Dr Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu, WHO Representative Dr Mark Jacobs, and KOICA Fiji Country Director Ms Hankyulsam Cho all highlighted the importance of the collaboration in building stronger, safer, and more resilient health services for the people of Fiji.

The broader SHAPE has also strengthened five other health facilities, installed solar power in 18 facilities, trained over 600 health workers, and improved disease surveillance and community adaptation to climate change impacts.

On September 11, 2025, Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary Dr. Musalia Mudavadi and South Korean Ambassador His Excellency Kang Hyung-Shik met in Nairobi to reaffirm their countries' partnership, focusing on enhancing cooperation in trade, innovation, and green growth.

Mudavadi highlighted Korea's contribution to Kenya's development in sectors including ICT, education, and agriculture. Key joint projects include the Konza Digital Media City, the Kenya-AIST, and the recently established International Vaccine Institute offices at the Konza Technopolis.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary underscored Kenya's commitment to enhancing cooperation in labor mobility, energy, and climate change action. He welcomed Korea’s support through KOICA projects and the planned opening of the Korea Exim Bank in Nairobi. Both officials committed to deepening cooperation in green economy initiatives, with Kenya expressing interest in joining the Global Green Growth Institute.

On September 1, 2025, the KFS and the UNCCD held an international forum in Seoul, South Korea, to review the PFI and its role in using forest restoration for peacebuilding.

The PFI, launched in 2019, aims to restore degraded land in border and conflict-prone areas to build trust and promote the peaceful use of natural resources. The forum brought together climate envoys, international organizations, and civil society groups to discuss the initiative's achievements and strategies.

Discussions highlighted case studies, including a forest peace model in Bosnia and Herzegovina developed with the FAO and the UNDP, as well as climate security responses in Central Asia. During the event, memoranda of understanding were signed to advance peace building efforts in these regions.