Building Africa’s Future: Health, Education, and Justice at COP30

Day four of COP30, in Belém, Brazil, centred on human well-being as the foundation of effective climate adaptation. The summit reinforced that protecting lives, promoting health, empowering communities through education, and addressing inequality are essential for building climate-resilient societies. A landmark development on this day was the adoption of the Belém Health Action Plan (BHAP), a global commitment designed to strengthen health systems against climate impacts. Developed under Brazil’s leadership in partnership with the World Health Organisation, the BHAP represents a strategic effort to integrate equity, justice, and cooperation into health sector adaptation.

The plan has garnered endorsements from 30 countries and 50 partners, including civil society organisations and intergovernmental bodies. To support implementation, over 35 philanthropic organisations, including The Rockefeller Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and IKEA Foundation, pledged an initial USD 300 million through the Climate and Health Funders Coalition. For Africa, where climate-sensitive health challenges such as heat stress, vector-borne diseases, and malnutrition are intensifying, the BHAP provides an actionable framework for building resilient health systems and protecting vulnerable populations.

READ ALSO: Africa Endorses Global Public Procurement Climate Framework at COP30

COP30’s focus extended beyond health, highlighting the critical role of education in climate adaptation. The Ministerial Roundtable on Greening Education, co-hosted by Brazil and UNESCO, emphasised the transformative potential of integrating climate literacy into school curricula. By equipping young Africans with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to understand and respond to climate risks, education becomes a powerful instrument for local adaptation and sustainable development.

During the session, the draft PISA framework on climate literacy was unveiled, providing a blueprint for assessing and improving student preparedness for climate challenges. By adopting such approaches, African nations can empower future generations to become active contributors to adaptation strategies, promoting community resilience from the classroom to the wider society.

Mobilising Finance for Actionable Adaptation

Financing is a central component of effective climate adaptation. On day four, the launch of the Fostering Investible National Planning and Implementation (FINI) initiative marked a pivotal development in mobilising resources for climate resilience. FINI aims to transform national adaptation plans into investable projects, targeting USD 1 trillion in adaptation pipelines by 2028. Approximately 20 percent of this funding is expected to come from private investors, while multilateral and philanthropic partners will contribute USD 500 million to support risk assessment and local capacity building. This approach offers Africa an opportunity to access large-scale finance for projects ranging from climate-resilient infrastructure and renewable energy to water management and agricultural adaptation.

The day also emphasised the importance of Early Warning Systems (EWS) and resilience infrastructure. The Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Strategy 2030, supported by countries including Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, and Spain, aims to enable climate-vulnerable nations to build robust EWS and surface observation networks. In Africa, where extreme weather events can devastate communities and economies, these systems are essential for early intervention, risk reduction, and disaster preparedness.

Justice and Human Rights

Justice and human rights were central themes on day four, underscoring that climate action is not purely technical but deeply moral. The Day of Justice, Climate, and Human Rights, along with the Sumaúma Pledging Tree initiative, highlighted the need for legal and ethical frameworks to guide climate action. These mechanisms encourage nations to protect vulnerable populations, ensure equitable access to resources, and uphold the rights of communities affected by climate change.

Brazil’s judiciary played a prominent role in promoting climate accountability, demonstrating that courts can enforce environmental commitments and provide remedies for affected populations. For Africa, strengthening legal and governance frameworks can enhance transparency, reduce inequities, and ensure that adaptation measures are both effective and just.

Information Integrity and Global Standards

Reliable information and transparent accounting are essential for effective climate action. COP30 addressed these issues through initiatives to harmonise carbon accounting standards and ensure data integrity. Led by ISO and the GHG Protocol, these efforts aim to create consistent and comparable approaches to measuring emissions and tracking climate commitments. Brazil also showcased its national chapter of the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, a model for combining government and civil society efforts to provide accurate, actionable data.

For African nations, participating in these global networks and adopting standardised accounting and reporting frameworks can unlock finance, improve policy effectiveness, and enhance credibility in climate negotiations. Accurate data is critical not only for measuring progress but also for attracting investment and designing targeted interventions.

A Pathway to Africa’s Climate Resilience

The outcomes of COP30 Day 4 offer a roadmap for Africa to integrate human-centred, finance-ready, and justice-based adaptation strategies. By leveraging the Belém Health Action Plan, African countries can strengthen climate-resilient health systems and protect vulnerable populations. Integrating climate literacy into education can cultivate a generation equipped to lead adaptation initiatives. Mobilising resources through FINI and related mechanisms can transform adaptation plans into actionable, investable projects, while the development of Early Warning Systems will reduce the impact of extreme weather events. Finally, strengthening legal and governance frameworks will ensure that adaptation strategies are equitable, transparent, and rights-based.

These measures align with the broader global climate framework, including the Paris Agreement, the UNFCCC Global Goal on Adaptation, and Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG 3 (Health), SDG 4 (Education), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). By embracing these initiatives, Africa has the opportunity to translate global decisions into tangible progress, safeguarding communities, building resilience, and positioning the continent as an active leader in climate adaptation.