International climate negotiations at COP 18: the art of the Doha-ble

In the face of geopolitical shifts, not least those driven by the second Trump administration, the EU needs to secure its own green industrial base and foster new alliances. The European Commission’ proposal for a Clean Industrial Deal, central to its new competitiveness agenda, needs to spell out how Europe will create the enabling conditions […]

Next week, representatives of public development banks and their stakeholders will gather in Cape Town for the 5th Finance in Common Summit (FiCS), to discuss how public development banks can align all their activities with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and the Global Biodiversity Framework. As the global network of public development banks, Finance in Common represents about 10% of total global development investments each year, which must all align with sustainable development pathways. This year, the discussions at FiCS will take place while South Africa hosts the first meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, with a focus on solidarity, equality, and sustainability.

2025 is a pivotal year for the interlocking global agendas of climate and sustainable development, highlighted by major convenings such as the 5th Finance in Common Summit (FiCS), the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the G20 Summit under South Africa’s presidency, and the UNFCCC COP30. Public development banks (PDBs) will feature prominently across these events, given their integral role in implementing these critical agendas through financial support and stakeholder mobilization.