Climate change: Stakeholders discuss adaptation plan, present post-COP30 results.

This was the focus of a two-day workshop which the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, organised in partnership with the United Kingdom, UK, High Commission. 

The gathering which opened Wednesday ends today in Yaounde. Among officials who attended the workshop was the British High Commissioner to Cameroon, H.E Matt Woods; and the Secretary General of the ministry of the environment, Paul Tchawa.

Officials used the seminar to present the national climate agenda and the National Climate Plan. They also provided an update on the revision of the National Adaptation Plan to Climate Change, NAPCC, and conclusions of COP30. Cameroon’s climate priorities were also discussed.

The British High Commissioner during the seminar emphasised the need to view environmental protection as a driver of sustainable economic growth. 

Matt Woods said his country is confident about Cameroon’s commitment to climate change and biodiversity preservation especially in the Congo Basin.

He said the British government, found through a study that the Congo Basin is one of the six most important ecosystems in the world.

Cameroon and the UK, he declared, “…have decades of partnership”, which must be appreciated. He praised the country’s consistent efforts in completing its third Nationally Determined Contribution, NDC, under the Paris Agreement and the National Climate Plan. 

Climate action, he said, “…is not the enemy of economic growth, but could be the engine of the economy…”. 

The diplomat called for a change of mentality for every stakeholder to see the benefits thereof. He said the UK is open to support Cameroon in seizing opportunities around the preservation of nature, forests and promoting sustainable development.

The diplomat said the workshop was “…to take stock post-COP, post-Belem, in order to see how we can continue and deepen our collaboration to implement all these policies and efforts”. 

During the COP in Belem, he said the Congo Basin “...really made a strong case for more attention and more finance. It was great to see the region come together and make that call so strongly…”.

Opportunities of climate change 

The Secretary General at the Ministry of Environment Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, Paul Tchawa, stated that Cameroon, like Côte d'Ivoire, believes that climate change must increasingly be viewed as an opportunity rather than just a threat. 

Such optimism, Tchawa said, “…is what brings us all together to exchange ideas and discuss”. 

Even in the face of threats, the Secretary General said cognisance must be made of steps Cameroon is staking to address them.

Cameroon's Climate Agenda

The Secretary General said “we have worked hard with various sectors, civil society, and other stakeholders, which led to the development of our Nationally Determined Contributions, NDC, which was a significant collaborative effort”.

He further disclosed that since 2024, under the Prime Minister's leadership, the government has made strides such as the National Climate Plan and the legislative adjustments.

Tchawa said addressing how to ensure vulnerabilities of societies, economy, and environments are reduced remains the main focus of COP. He added opportunities in view are also considered.

“The state with the support of Great Britain is mobilizing various actors to take stock especially since many frameworks are under development or have been established to action whose results should be felt at the community level,” Tchawa said. 

Enter focal point personnel

The Focal Point Personnel of the National Climate Plan, Kagonbe Timothee, said climate change issues occupy a central place in the global economy. Negotiations, he said, are currently leading to the establishment of a certain number of frameworks”.

Given that Cameroon is exposed to climatic shocks like every other country, Kagonbe said the country must keep pace to changes. 

He also mentioned the need to dialogue “with all stakeholders…in order to emerge with a roadmap that will allow us to further improve the vision of the fight against climate change in Cameroon”.

This article article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3736 of Thursday March 19, 2026