Closing the Climate Finance Gap: From Protection to Development

Progress in Protection and Preparedness

As COP30 in Belém, Brazil, approaches in early November, global attention is turning to how countries can translate climate promises into concrete action on the ground. Climate change has become increasingly unpredictable, and extreme weather events such as wildfires, droughts, and apocalyptic floods are creating devastating effects on people’s livelihoods everywhere. Progress is being made, especially in terms of implementing measures such as high sea walls, cyclone warning systems, floating homes, and planting drought-tolerant crops. In 2022, Secretary-General António Guterres launched the Early Warnings for All initiative, which aims to protect all people through an alert system by 2027. These systems have successfully given farmers the power to protect their crops and livestock while enabling families to evacuate safely.

Persistent Gaps in Adaptation and Finance

Yet, despite this progress, major gaps remain. Many developing countries lack the resources to expand adaptation and early-warning systems, leaving millions still unprotected. The UN Environment Programme estimates that adaptation efforts will require between $160 and $340 billion annually, but only a fraction of that funding is currently reaching vulnerable nations. Without predictable and sustained finance, national adaptation plans (NAPs) risk remaining on paper rather than saving lives in practice.

Financing a More Resilient Future

As leaders prepare to meet in Belém, the focus is now on closing this gap. Both UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell and Secretary-General António Guterres have emphasized that adaptation is not optional but essential for protecting lives and empowering communities to thrive. They have called for a surge in climate financing, including mobilizing $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 for developing countries and doubling adaptation funding to $40 billion this year. COP30 will serve as a key test of global solidarity—an opportunity for countries to ensure that finance flows to where it is needed most, turning early warnings and adaptation plans into real protection for people on the frontlines of climate change. As the Secretary-General stresses, countries “need to be much more ambitious” in climate action. Climate action lies at the heart of sustainable development, especially for countries still striving to build resilience. Global cooperation, increased financing, and alignment with the scientific community will be key to containing global warming and protecting lives around the world.

Read the articles below on climate financing and COP30.

UN News: Climate science and early warnings key to saving lives
UN News: ‘Finance must flow now’, says UN climate chief as COP30 nears