By Buainess Insider Correspondent, Dodoma
Tanzania, in its pivotal role as the Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on Climate Change, is set to lead the continent’s united front and articulate Africa’s collective priorities at the upcoming 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Brazil.
The announcement was made by Engineer Cyprian Luhemeja, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice President, on Tuesday, 21 October 2025, while opening a preparatory meeting for Permanent Secretaries in Dodoma. The critical global climate summit is scheduled to take place in Brazil from 10 to 21 November 2025.
A Historic COP and the Vision 2050 Agenda
Eng. Luhemeja underscored the historic significance of COP30, noting that its return to the country where the UN Convention was first established is expected to drive urgent, concrete action on climate change after 33 years of the treaty’s existence.
He highlighted that for Tanzania, the meeting is about more than just negotiation; it is a crucial platform for forging international partnerships and mobilising essential climate finance to support the country’s transformation and bolster the Green Economy.
This global push aligns directly with domestic policy, specifically President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s launch of the Tanzania Development Vision 2050 (DIRA 2050) on 17 July 2025.
The Vision explicitly commits the nation to climate-resilient, prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable development across all sectors.
To ensure success, the government is finalising key implementation tools, including the Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
Clean energy: Africa’s foremost demand
Dr. Richard Muyungi, Presidential Advisor on Environmental Affairs and Chairman of the AGN, confirmed that the issue of clean energy is Africa’s foremost agenda item leading into COP30 – a priority agreed upon earlier this year in Zanzibar.
Dr. Muyungi compellingly argued that Africa’s climate demands must reflect the practical realities on the ground, specifically the need to address the hardships faced by women and youth due to a critical lack of clean cooking energy and reliable electricity.
Other priorities forming the continent’s demands include:
Achieving widespread electricity access for the majority of citizens by 2030 and fostering genuine opportunities for youth in climate change adaptation efforts, reversing past trends where young people were often excluded from such processes.
Climate resilience in the blue economy
Adding a perspective from the semi-autonomous region, Engineer Ussi Khamis Debe, Executive Secretary of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities Zanzibar (representing the First Vice President’s Office), emphasised the particular vulnerability of Zanzibar.
He noted that the islands’ economy is largely rooted in the Blue Economy – including fishing, agriculture and tourism – all of which are facing severe threats and challenges stemming directly from the detrimental effects of climate change. The Zanzibar government’s representation underlines the urgent, localised need for effective climate action and financing.
