DRC Pushes for Forest Valorization During Inaugural National Climate Week

Kinshasa, October 24, 2025 - The first National Climate Week in the Democratic Republic of Congo concluded on October 30, 2025, emphasizing the importance of preserving and valorizing the country’s vast forest heritage. Held over four days, the event brought together provincial ministers, civil society actors, and environmental experts to discuss strategies for sustainable forest management and climate action ahead of the COP in Belém, Brazil, scheduled for November.

Participants highlighted the potential of the government’s “Forest is Us” program as a tool for public education, climate finance mobilization, and community engagement. The forum also advocated for the creation of green jobs and called for formal recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ critical role in conserving forests and biodiversity.

Minister of the Environment, Marie Nyange, praised President Félix Tshisekedi’s commitment to sustainable development, while Prime Minister Judith Suminwa pledged to translate the forum’s recommendations into tangible policies and initiatives.

Organized around the theme “Forest, Biodiversity, and Peatlands,” the National Climate Week fostered dialogue between policymakers, experts, and local communities, aiming to strengthen the DRC’s readiness for international climate negotiations and to ensure its forest resources contribute effectively to both ecological preservation and socio-economic development.