A New Climate Finance Target Beyond 2025
As climate change intensifies, the question of who pays for the response is more urgent than ever. Kenya, like many developing nations, has submitted its position on the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) — the global target that will succeed the current USD 100 billion annual pledge made under the Paris Agreement.
Kenya’s message is clear: the new goal must be fairer, larger, and more responsive to the real needs of developing countries.
Why the $100 Billion Goal Wasn’t Enough
The USD 100B per year commitment has fallen short. It has been:
Too small compared to the trillions needed (Africa alone requires over USD 3 trillion by 2030 to meet its climate pledges).
Imbalanced, with most funds going to mitigation projects, leaving adaptation — crucial for vulnerable countries — underfunded.
Unclear and inconsistent, with no common definition of what counts as climate finance, and frequent double counting.
Kenya’s Climate Finance Needs
Kenya estimates it requires USD 62 billion between 2020 and 2030 to deliver on its climate commitments:
USD 17.7B for mitigation (cutting emissions).
USD 43.9B for adaptation (building resilience, protecting communities, and securing food systems).
Yet, adaptation receives only a fraction of available finance. Kenya insists that under the new goal, adaptation financing must be increased and grant-based to avoid worsening debt burdens.
What the New Goal Must Deliver
Kenya outlines several priorities for the NCQG:
Balance between mitigation and adaptation finance — with stronger emphasis on adaptation.
Transparency and fairness — all developed countries should contribute their fair share, with clear accounting.
Needs-driven financing — based on country-owned assessments, not donor preferences.
Loss and Damage finance — to help vulnerable countries recover from unavoidable climate impacts.
Just Transition — support for low-carbon pathways, green innovation, and protection of livelihoods.
A Call for Equity and Transformation
Kenya’s submission reminds the world that climate finance is not charity — it is an obligation under the Paris Agreement. Developed countries, whose emissions have driven the crisis, must step up and deliver adequate, predictable, and accessible financing that enables Africa and other vulnerable regions to thrive in a warming world.
At The Youth Cafe, we echo Kenya’s call: the New Climate Finance Goal must prioritize justice, equity, and transformative action. Our future depends on bold commitments that move beyond promises and into real, lasting support for communities on the frontlines of climate change.
🌍 A fairer finance system is possible — and it is urgently needed.