Belém, Brazil, 16 November 2025 – The Government of Ireland and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today reaffirmed their partnership to advance preparations for the forthcoming UNDP Global Project Office for Sustainable Finance in Dublin. The meeting, held on the margins of COP30, highlighted Ireland’s growing leadership in sustainable finance and its commitment to strengthening global financial systems that support climate action and sustainable development.  

The meeting follows Ireland and UNDP’s announcement earlier this year of a new partnership to establish a Global Project Office for Sustainable Finance in Dublin, underpinned by Ireland’s €7.5 million commitment. Building on this, Ireland and UNDP used discussions at COP30 to review progress and outline next steps to deepen cooperation on strengthening financial systems that support climate action and sustainable development.

This shared work comes at a pivotal moment, as new evidence underscores the development impact of better-aligned finance. Joint UNDP–OECD research, developed through UNDP’s Climate Promise and published in the 2025 report Investing in Climate for Growth and Development, finds that more ambitious and integrated national climate plans could lift up to 175 million people out of poverty by 2050—demonstrating the transformative development gains possible when finance is aligned with national climate and development goals.

Darragh O’Brien, T.D., Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, said: “The climate crisis demands a financial system that can deliver for people and planet. Ireland is committed to mobilizing finance that protects the most vulnerable and accelerates resilience. Our partnership with UNDP, and the preparations underway for the new Project Office in Dublin, demonstrate Ireland’s determination to turn climate ambition into real, practical solutions.” 

Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, said: “Ireland is helping shape a financial architecture that works for sustainable development. As we advance preparations for the new Project Office in Dublin, we are building a platform that will give countries the policies, tools and partnerships needed to mobilize investment at scale. Ireland’s leadership is essential to ensuring finance delivers for people and planet.” 

The Dublin-based Project Office will support countries in strengthening their financial systems, developing sustainable finance policies and supervisory approaches, and building pipelines of investments aligned with climate, nature and development goals. It will also host key global networks, including the UNDP Financial Centres for Sustainability (FC4S) and the Sustainable Insurance Forum (SIF), expanding their reach and influence.

As global discussions at COP30 focus on accelerating delivery of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Ireland–UNDP partnership reflects a shared commitment to making financial systems more inclusive, resilient and aligned with long-term development priorities.