Leveraging Climate Finance – DRC Case
The DRC used its oil reserves and rainforests as bargaining tools in climate negotiations. By announcing oil and gas auctions in sensitive areas, it drew global attention and pressured rich countries to provide more climate finance. At the same time, the DRC highlighted that protecting forests is valuable for the whole world.
Multilateral coordination strengthened this strategy. Through REDD+, the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, and alliances with Brazil and Indonesia, the DRC acted as part of a larger group. This collective approach increased its negotiating power and made its demands harder to ignore.
The strategy is closely linked to loss and damage, as the DRC contributes very little to emissions but faces high climate risks. Ethically, while threatening environmental harm is concerning, it reflects climate injustice and the lack of fair financial support for vulnerable countries.