Environmental news is taking an increasingly prominent place in global debates. The issue of climate change and environmental protection has become essential, pushing countries around the world to put in place concrete measures to preserve our planet.
In this context, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) positions itself as a major player in the fight against climate change. Indeed, the country has half of Africa’s forests, fresh water resources and significant mineral reserves. It therefore has considerable potential to contribute to global climate action.
It is with this in mind that the Congolese Head of State, Félix Tshisekedi, sent Stéphanie Mbombo as special envoy for climate economics. She recently announced that the DRC had initiated negotiations within the framework of the Forum for Forest and Climate Leaders (FCALP) to obtain funding for the protection of peatlands.
These negotiations are part of the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP28) which will be held in Dubai. President Tshisekedi will take this opportunity to hold a meeting entitled “DRC Side Event COP 28 Water” with climate partners, in order to sign commitments within the framework of the FCALP.
The objective of these commitments is to promote the DRC’s peatlands while preserving the communities that live around them. The aim is to offer these populations economic alternatives so that they do not depend on the exploitation of peatlands, which would limit deforestation.
Alongside these negotiations, the DRC is also planning the creation of a fund for the new climate economy. This fund, which will have a national vision, will be financed in part by carbon credit transactions. It will be used to build sustainable infrastructure to develop the country while preserving the environment.
The DRC’s efforts to protect peatlands and combat climate change are essential. According to the World Bank, Congolese forests could generate an estimated value of between $223 billion and $398 billion per year through stored carbon and associated ecosystem services.
By engaging in these negotiations and implementing concrete measures, the DRC is showing its ambition to become a “solution country” in the face of climate change. It thus contributes to the protection of our environment and the preservation of the natural resources essential to our future.
The DRC’s participation in COP28 and its efforts to obtain funding for the protection of peatlands are crucial actions in the fight against climate change.. Let us hope that these negotiations lead to concrete results and allow the DRC to play a leading role in the preservation of our planet.