On 29 October 2025, the VIDC, in cooperation with the Bruno Kreisky Forum for International Dialogue, is organising a panel discussion on ‘international climate finance in times of uncertainty’. The world´s temperature is rapidly rising to 1.5 degrees above the pre-industrial level which has been the temperature target since Paris 2015. More severe storms, droughts, floods and heat waves are inflicting devastation on the most vulnerable communities which bear the least responsibility for the climate crisis. African countries recognize the need for climate action, but are struggling under high debt burdens, aid cuts, new taxes on their exports imposed by the US and the need to invest in their economic development to generate employment and social services for their young populations.
In the context of political uncertainty, rising nationalism and climate skepticism, are past commitments for climate finance and global climate action still realistic? Can there be any positive perspectives for the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in November 2025? Or will climate policy just be a further blow to relations between the EU and the African continent?
Our Speakers
Mavis Owusu Gyamfi, President and CEO of the African Centre for Economic Transformation (tbc)
Hans Peter Lankes, Managing Director at ODI Global (formerly Overseas Development Institute)
Sybille Straubinger, Managing Director of the VIDC
Irene Horejs, Former Director of DG ECHO and former EU Ambassador to Peru, Mali and Niger