UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell. PHOTO/ Kiara Worth/UN Climate Change.
By PATRICK MAYOYO
There is need for urgent increased and more accessible climate finance to drive global efforts to combat climate change, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, has said.
Stiell who was speaking at COP30’s third High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on climate finance, described climate finance as the “lifeblood of climate action,” urging governments and stakeholders to accelerate the flow of funds to developing nations, which are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Speaking on Saturday, Stiell highlighted that while there has been some progress since the Paris Agreement, climate finance remains insufficient, unreliable, and unfairly distributed.
Despite billions of dollars being invested in clean energy, resilience, and just transitions, he stressed that the finance gap, particularly for adaptation; continues to widen, leaving many of the world’s most vulnerable nations at a disadvantage.
“We know the scale of the challenge: climate impacts are growing, but the adaptation finance gap remains far too wide,” Stiell stated. “At the same time, debt burdens are rising; and far too many of the most vulnerable countries still struggle to access even the resources that have already been pledged.”
Stiell’s remarks were made in the context of a broader call for action on the delivery of climate finance, emphasising the need for developed countries to meet their pledge of doubling adaptation finance by 2025.
The UN Climate Chief pointed to existing climate funds, such as the Adaptation Fund, Least Developed Countries Fund, and the Special Climate Fund; as vital mechanisms for addressing the urgent needs of least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS).
However, Stiell warned that the current system of climate finance is failing to meet its targets. He called for a significant scaling up of funds, including tripling outflows from UNFCCC climate funds by 2030, and for the elimination of barriers that prevent developing countries from accessing funds. These barriers include high debt burdens, complicated access processes, and lack of clear guidance.
“These are not abstract numbers. They are lifelines,” Stiell said, referring to the urgent need for financial support to help nations protect vital infrastructure, transition to clean energy, and adapt their economies to the realities of climate change.
The UN Climate Executive Secretary also underscored the importance of predictable and transparent finance, which could foster trust and encourage greater participation from both public and private sectors.
He argued that climate finance should not be viewed as charity, but as “smart economics,” with climate action creating long-term opportunities for economic growth, job creation, improved health, and more resilient communities worldwide.
“Climate action, underpinned by climate finance, is the growth story of the 21st century,” Stiell declared, urging world leaders to be bold in their commitments and to make climate finance accessible to those who need it most.
As negotiations continue at COP30, Stiell’s speech served as a reminder of the central role that climate finance plays in delivering on the promises of the Paris Agreement and ensuring that climate action can be scaled up in a way that benefits all nations, especially the most vulnerable.
“The world is looking for proof that climate cooperation delivers,” Stiell concluded. “Real finance, flowing fast and fair, is central to that proof. Because when finance flows, ambition grows. And when ambition grows, implementation flows—creating jobs, improving health, and securing a prosperous, more resilient planet for all.”
