The Democratic Republic of the Congo wants its forests to start paying their way. That is the message of the second National Climate Week (SENAC II), which opened on Monday at the Cultural and Artistic Centre for Central African Countries. Until 30 October, the gathering brings together national and international players, customary authorities and local committees of Indigenous peoples.
The chosen theme leaves no doubt about current priorities: the DRC in the era of carbon market development, with opportunities for all and prospects for the future. Panels, thematic workshops and exchanges between decision-makers, experts and local actors will fill the week.
Speaking on behalf of the head of state, Deputy Prime Minister for the Interior Jacquemin Shabani described the carbon market as a new horizon for the country. In his view, it can raise money to protect forests, restore degraded land, develop sustainable farming and clean energy, while cutting emissions. He also sees it as a way to draw responsible investment, give rise to new businesses and create jobs that benefit communities. The president, he added, wants this edition to produce decisions, commitments and results, with clear responsibilities and deadlines.
Marie Nyange Ndambo, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and the New Climate Economy, set the tone. For her, protecting forests is no longer just an ecological requirement but also an engine of growth, jobs and innovation. She laid out a clear ambition: to build a carbon market that is credible, transparent, fair and beneficial to all, from local communities and Indigenous peoples to women, young people and future generations.
The country is putting several tools forward to get there. A legal framework now governs carbon credit projects and transactions. A sovereign national registry named Lumière is meant to track credits, while a Carbon Market Regulatory Authority is tasked with overseeing the sector. At a press briefing on 22 October, the minister also pledged that at least 20 percent of revenues would go to local communities. She acknowledged, however, that a law alone does not generate income: projects still need to be structured and investors attracted. The actual launch of the market depends on the registry being set up, with no date announced.
On paper, the DRC holds a strong hand. According to ministry figures, it is home to more than 72 percent of the Congo Basin’s forests, half of the continent’s freshwater reserves and over three quarters of the basin’s peatlands, vast carbon sinks. Kinshasa therefore presents itself as a « solution country » in the face of climate change.
The week also serves as a dress rehearsal for COP31, set for 9 to 20 November in Antalya, Turkey. The DRC intends to speak there for an Africa that wants a real say in global climate decisions, and to call for fair payment for the environmental services its forests provide to the planet.
