By Communications Desk, Sierra Leone Delegation to COP30 Belém, Brazil
At the recently concluded World Leaders’ Summit of COP30, held on 6–7 November 2025 at the Amazonia Hangar Centre in Belém, Brazil, Sierra Leone’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai, delivered a compelling address urging world leaders to shift from ambition to action in safeguarding the planet’s forests and oceans.
Representing President Dr. Brig. (Ret.) Julius Maada Bio at the Roundtable on Climate and Nature: Forests and Oceans, Minister Abdulai described forests and oceans as “the lungs, the lifeblood, and the hope of our world.” He praised Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for convening the timely dialogue, which he said underscored the urgency of protecting two of Earth’s most vital climate buffers.
“Forests and oceans are not just natural resources. They are nature’s technology for climate action,” Minister Abdulai stated. “Protecting them is not optional; it is our responsibility to our people, to our children, and to generations yet unborn.”
Outlining Sierra Leone’s National Commitment to Restoration and Resilience, the Minister unveiled an ambitious environmental agenda aiming to:
- Expand protection to 30% of the country’s terrestrial and marine ecosystems
- Restore 30% of degraded forests and mangroves by 2030
He emphasized that local communities are central to this initiative, recognized as equal partners in conservation while pursuing sustainable livelihoods and economic growth.
“In Sierra Leone, the bond between forests and oceans is a lived reality,” he said. “Our forests nurture our watersheds and protect biodiversity, while our mangroves feed our communities and defend them from rising seas.”
On the theme of Financing Nature and Strengthening Global Partnerships, Minister Abdulai called for:
- Enhanced global and regional cooperation, including South-South collaboration
- Scalable solutions that empower indigenous peoples and local communities
- Improved access to climate finance and carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
- Increased adaptation finance for landscape management that matches the scale of the climate challenge
He concluded by reaffirming Sierra Leone’s growing leadership in global climate diplomacy, anchored in evidence-based policy, inclusive development, and the country’s third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC3), which sets ambitious targets for emissions reduction, ecosystem restoration, and climate adaptation.
Minister Abdulai’s message resonated across the plenary, reinforcing Sierra Leone’s role as a rising voice for equitable and nature-positive climate action.
The Sierra Leone delegation to COP30, led by Minister Abdulai and Deputy Minister of Finance I, Madam Kadiatu Allie, will continue engaging development partners over the next two weeks on key climate action themes. The Minister expressed optimism that COP30 will yield stronger partnerships, practical commitments, and renewed global solidarity for vulnerable ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.