ACCESS4ALL Group

Leveraging natural resources in climate negotiationsThe Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) strategically used its oil and gas reserves and its role as custodian of the Congo Basin rainforest—the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest—as leverage in international climate negotiations ahead of COP27. By announcing a 2022 oil and gas auction while simultaneously emphasizing the global climate value of its forests as a carbon sink, the DRC framed a clear trade-off: without adequate international financial support, it would be forced to pursue fossil fuel development to meet development needs. This approach increased global attention and positioned the DRC not as a passive victim of climate change, but as a critical actor whose choices have global consequences.

Role of multilateral coordination in strengthening bargaining powerMultilateral coordination significantly amplified the DRC’s negotiating power. By aligning with mechanisms such as REDD+, the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, and forest-rich countries like Brazil and Indonesia, the DRC shifted from isolated national advocacy to collective bargaining. This coalition-building reinforced the argument that protecting tropical forests is a global public good requiring sustained international finance. Coordinated messaging also reduced the risk of donor countries playing forest nations against one another, strengthening demands for predictable, long-term climate finance.

Loss and damage in the DRC’s strategy and the Global South debate Loss and damage is central to the DRC’s climate finance strategy. The country faces climate impacts—flooding, ecosystem degradation, and livelihood losses—despite contributing minimally to global emissions. By highlighting these realities, the DRC linked forest protection and foregone fossil fuel revenues to compensation for climate-related losses and missed development opportunities. This framing aligns with broader Global South arguments that climate finance should go beyond mitigation and adaptation to address irreversible losses, opportunity costs, and historical responsibility.

Ethical dimensions and climate justice considerations The DRC’s strategy raises complex ethical questions. On one hand, leveraging potential environmental destruction appears contradictory to climate protection goals. On the other hand, it reflects the structural injustice embedded in the global climate system: countries that contributed least to climate change are often asked to bear the greatest economic sacrifices without adequate compensation. From a climate justice perspective, the DRC’s approach can be seen as a rational response to persistent underfunding, delayed commitments, and unmet climate finance promises. It underscores the moral imperative for wealthy nations to provide sufficient, accessible, and predictable finance so that vulnerable countries are not forced into environmentally harmful development pathways.