Samia calls for fair carbon returns as COP31 faces finance gap
Tanzania's president told leaders in Antalya, Türkiye, on November 11 that climate promises must be turned into investments that protect communities.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan asked for fair carbon-market returns and easier access to climate finance at the COP31 conference in Antalya, Türkiye, on November 11. She said prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall and rising seas cost Tanzania an estimated two to three per cent of its gross domestic product each year.
Carbon-market opportunities, she said, exist in transport, waste management, renewable energy and forests, which cover about 48.1 million hectares. She called for a transparent carbon market mechanism under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement that would secure fair pricing and shared benefits for communities, and asked that countries' differing development needs and capabilities be taken into account when climate expectations are set.
Tanzania's National Adaptation Plan for 2025–2035, submitted in November 2025, estimates US$37 billion is needed for 36 programmes, including agricultural water security and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Why it mattersClimate shocks cost Tanzania an estimated two to three per cent of its gross domestic product annually, and the country estimates US$37 billion is needed for adaptation programmes.