Ghana reinforces climate diplomacy at COP30 Pre-Conference Leaders’ Summit in Belém, Brazil

Mr Issifu Seidu, Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, represented President John Dramani Mahama at the Pre-Conference of Parties (COP) 30 Leaders’ Summit held in Belém, Brazil.

The high-level meeting, jointly organised by the Government of Brazil, the COP30 Presidency, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), convened leaders from 153 delegations to strengthen political coordination ahead of the COP30 negotiations.

In his opening address, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil described COP30 as “the COP of truth,” urging urgent global action to protect forests, accelerate the energy transition, and reverse deforestation. He called on world leaders to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mobilise resources for a just and sustainable transition.

President Lula also launched the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), an innovative mechanism to channel long-term financing into tropical forest preservation. The initiative received robust international support, with pledges including $3 billion from Norway, $1 billion each from Brazil and Indonesia, and €500 million from France, among others.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised the urgency of action, noting, “This is no longer the time for negotiations. It is time for implementation, implementation, and implementation.”

During the summit, over 40 countries and international organisations endorsed a Call to Action on Integrated Fire Management and Wildfire Resilience, aimed at improving prevention, strengthening indigenous leadership, and facilitating technology transfer to enhance global climate and biodiversity resilience.

Ghana’s active participation highlights the nation’s commitment to international climate diplomacy and coordinated global efforts to deliver concrete outcomes at COP30.