The 30th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP30) officially opened in Belém, Brazil, bringing together global leaders, negotiators, and stakeholders to accelerate climate action.

Leading The Gambia’s delegation, Hon. Rohey John Manjang, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, called for access to climate finance to strengthen the country’s resilience and adaptation to climate change.

“The Gambia has developed ambitious climate policies and strategies,” she noted, “but access to adequate and predictable financing remains crucial for achieving our national targets.”

This year’s COP focuses on turning commitments into concrete implementation, with priorities including mobilising large-scale climate finance, enhancing global climate governance, accelerating Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and scaling up adaptation efforts in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In his opening address, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil,  emphasized that, “for this year’s COP to matter, it must be the COP of Truth and Implementation. We are moving in the right direction, but at the wrong speed. We must turn commitments into concrete actions.”

The host presidency has set an ambitious goal of mobilising US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to support developing countries in meeting their climate goals.

For nations like The Gambia, access to climate finance remains a critical enabler of adaptation, supporting initiatives that build climate-resilient agriculture, restore mangrove ecosystems, protect coastlines, and enhance water resource management.

However, limited technical capacity, complex access procedures, and data challenges continue to hinder progress.

Hon. Manjang reaffirmed The Gambia’s unwavering commitment to climate action and called on the global community to work collaboratively to ensure that no country is left behind in the fight against climate change.