Gabon hosts Congo Basin civil society for COP31 talks
Over 50 participants from six countries met in Libreville to forge a common stance on climate finance and local rights.
Libreville, Gabon, became the center for green diplomacy in the Congo Basin on October 28, 2026, as over 50 participants from six countries gathered for a two-day conference. Environmental civil society organizations from Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gabon convened to build a unified position before COP31.
The conference, themed "A resilient Congo Basin: forests, populations, finances and nature," aims to ensure the region, the planet's second-largest green lung, arrives at COP31 united and coordinated. Key discussions focused on the role of local communities and indigenous peoples, with participants demanding effective decision-making participation and direct access to climate finance. Indigenous peoples presented nine demands, including formal recognition of their rights and reduced extractive industries on their territories.
Martial Dinang, executive secretary of Brainforest, emphasized that forest preservation should not compromise the rights of local populations, stressing the need to protect livelihoods and ensure their effective participation in decisions. Etienne Dourani Toko, representing local communities in Gabon, stated that nature cannot be preserved by marginalizing its guardians. Only 2.1% of climate funds reportedly reach forest guardians.
Why it mattersThe meeting in Libreville aims to ensure the Congo Basin's position is unified and coordinated for COP31, focusing on local community rights and climate finance.