By Jacques Assahoré Konan, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, and Blerta Cela, UNDP Resident Representative in Côte d'Ivoire

Imagine a country where the Atlantic Ocean meets a vast network of lagoons, where mangroves shelter rare species and where golden beaches stretch into the horizon. That country is Côte d’Ivoire. With coastal and marine ecosystems found nowhere else in West Africa, it stands as both an ecological treasure and a pillar of economic opportunity.

These natural riches, however, face mounting pressure. Overfishing, lagoon pollution, mangrove destruction and the effects of climate change all threaten ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Yet these challenges also create a unique opening for Côte d’Ivoire and for Africa as a whole to rethink development around resilience, environmental stewardship and shared prosperity.

A few months ago, in a central region that has lost more than 80 percent of its natural forests in the past fifty years, young farmers were planting trees on degraded land. One of them said, “In the past, we had to leave to find work. Today the forest supports us.” Their experience reflects a broader transformation underway in the country, one in which environmental restoration fosters growth, jobs and social stability.

Taking Action on Climate Change

In October 2025, Côte d’Ivoire adopted the third version of its Nationally Determined Contribution. Prepared with support from technical and financial partners including the United Nations Development Programme, this roadmap renews the country’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent by 2035 and by up to 74 percent with international assistance. It reflects a belief that development and environmental protection can move forward together.

The strategy includes several priorities. It seeks to raise the share of renewable energy to 46.3 percent by 2035, restore 1.5 million hectares of forest, protect biodiversity and promote a blue and circular economy that benefits coastal communities. It also commits to making gender equality part of all climate policies.

Taken together, these goals position Côte d’Ivoire as a regional leader able to combine growth, inclusion and resilience.

Driving Sustainable Growth

A central initiative in this effort is Côte d’Ivoire Bleue, a program that puts the 2026 to 2030 National Development Plan into practice along the coastline. Its objective is to make the Ivorian coast a global model for sustainable economic development.

The program will create three new Marine Protected Areas, including Grand-Béréby in the southwest. By 2035, these areas will protect 30 percent of sensitive marine zones and help secure sustainable fishing while preserving ecosystems. The initiative will also restore 5,000 hectares of mangroves and coastal forests to absorb carbon, limit erosion and support community resilience.

The economic potential is considerable. With well-targeted investments, the blue economy could generate more than one billion dollars in additional annual revenue by 2035 and create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in coastal regions. Sustainable agricultural sectors such as coffee and cocoa already contribute 15 percent of GDP and 40 percent of export earnings. Ecotourism and circular-economy initiatives add further opportunities.

Financing will rely on blue bonds, carbon credits and public-private partnerships, supported by rigorous monitoring to ensure measurable benefits for communities and ecosystems. Planned investments total 378 million dollars.

Asserting African Leadership

At COP 30 in Belém, Côte d’Ivoire reaffirmed its role in global climate governance. Represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, the country argued that the global ecological transition cannot move forward without Africa. African countries contribute the least to global emissions yet face the greatest impacts.

The delegation called for more effective climate finance tools and highlighted the carbon market and circular economy as key components of a fairer and more efficient financing system.

This approach sees the green transition not as a constraint but as a strategic opportunity to modernize infrastructure, create jobs for young people and stimulate innovation.

COP 30 did not mark a decisive breakthrough in implementing the Paris Agreement. It did, however, allow Côte d’Ivoire to strengthen its presence on the international climate stage. Above all, it confirmed a national ambition that is now openly embraced. The country aims to build a resilient and innovative society where restored ecosystems, ecotourism and a dynamic blue economy improve the daily lives of communities.

It envisions a future in which every lagoon, every mangrove and every ecosystem contributes in a tangible way to sustainable development, both for its people and for the planet.