Follow the Money: Can Climate Finance Compete with Extractive Land Investments?

Climate finance is often presented as a solution to deforestation, yet forest landscapes are shaped by competing financial and land-use interests. This seminar examines the transformative potential of REDD+ finance in the Democratic Republic of Congo, showing how its influence is constrained in contexts dominated by extractive activities. Tracing financial and commodity flows, the seminar highlights how overlapping mining, timber, carbon, and oil interests shape land-use change and can reinforce inequality, calling for a rethinking of deforestation narratives.