Namibia Urges Stronger Global Action at COP30 in Brazil

Namibia boasts one of the world’s first industrial-scale green iron plants powered entirely by green hydrogen. The HyIron Oshivela green iron project, which was launched early this year, will prevent 27,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. “This is part of the transformative green hydrogen strategy that will see the country take decisive steps towards cleaner and renewable energy sources,” noted Nandi-Ndaitwah.

The president emphasised that climate adaptation is a central priority across eight key sectors such as agriculture, water resources, biodiversity and ecosystems, fisheries and aquaculture, health, infrastructure and coastal management. “Adaptation in these sectors requires an estimated US$6 billion, of which about 90% depends on international support. At the same time, mitigation across various sectors is estimated to cost US$9 billion, of which 10% is expected to come from domestic resources,” said NandiNdaitwah. She further called for COP30 to operationalise the new collective quantified goal on climate finance of US$1.3 trillion, ensuring it is fair, transparent and responsive to the needs of developing countries.

In his remarks, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres noted that COP30 has delivered progress with a notable call to triple adaptation finance by 2035. However, he stressed that it has not delivered everything that is needed. “The gap between where we are and what science demands remains dangerously wide,” he noted. Guterres urged delegates that staying below 1.5 degrees by the end of the century must remain humanity’s red line.