Background: A new climate-forward wildlife initiative
A coalition of African leaders has agreed to champion a landmark policy movement: the Global Wildlife for Climate Action Declaration. The declaration aims to elevate wildlife preservation and biodiversity considerations within global climate strategies, signaling a shift toward nature-centered climate leadership. The plan is to unveil the declaration at COP31, scheduled for 2026, creating a formal platform for wildlife-and-climate policy alignment at the world’s premier climate conference.
Origins and developments: From side event to policy ambition
Details emerged at a high-profile side event during COP30 in Belém, Brazil, hosted by the World Federation for Animals. The event brought together policymakers, conservationists, and regional leaders to discuss how wildlife protection can be integrated into climate commitments. The discussions reportedly established a roadmap for the declaration’s development, including consultation across African union member states, regional conservation agencies, and international partners. While formal text is still under negotiation, the consensus is clear: wildlife should be a central pillar of climate resilience and sustainable development in Africa and beyond.
What the declaration aims to achieve
The proposed Global Wildlife for Climate Action Declaration is expected to advocate for several core objectives. First, it seeks stronger protections for habitats under threat from deforestation, mining, and land-use change, with a focus on iconic African ecosystems such as savannas, forests, and wetlands. Second, it calls for integrated climate finance that explicitly funds wildlife conservation and ecosystem restoration as climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Third, the declaration would push for science-based indicators to measure biodiversity gains alongside greenhouse gas reductions, enabling more holistic climate accounting. Finally, it emphasizes community involvement, ensuring local communities benefit from conservation actions and governance.
Why now: The science, policy, and geopolitical context
Experts argue that climate resilience is inseparable from biodiversity health. Loss of wildlife and ecosystem degradation undermine resilience to extreme weather, drought, and heat waves—outcomes that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable communities in Africa. By foregrounding wildlife in climate policy, African leaders aim to mobilize new funding, strengthen regional collaborations, and amplify the continent’s voice in global climate governance. The declaration could also serve as a model for other regions seeking to pair ecological integrity with climate action, potentially inspiring cross-border conservation corridors and shared biodiversity targets within international accords.
What observers should watch for at COP31
As COP31 approaches, observers will look for formal agreement on the declaration’s text, the list of signatory states, and a concrete implementation framework. Questions remain about financing mechanisms, governance structures, and accountability. Will the declaration lead to binding commitments or remain a voluntary framework? How will measurement and reporting standards be established? Nevertheless, the momentum generated at COP30 indicates a growing willingness among African leaders to couple climate ambition with wildlife protection in a tangible, action-oriented way.
Implications for communities and ecosystems
For communities living near critical wildlife habitats, the declaration could translate into better management of protected areas, sustainable livelihoods, and enhanced protection against climate risks. Healthy wildlife populations support pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control—ecosystem services that underpin food security and agriculture. If successfully implemented, the Global Wildlife for Climate Action Declaration could become a blueprint for integrating biodiversity safeguards into national climate plans, regional strategies, and global agreements.
Looking ahead
With African leaders driving the initiative, the Global Wildlife for Climate Action Declaration has the potential to reshape how the international community addresses climate change and biodiversity together. COP31 will be a critical milestone to test commitment, forge partnerships, and materialize a policy framework that acknowledges wildlife as a cornerstone of climate resilience and sustainable development.
