Crandi

Cop30 Saw Important Developments Amid Huge Disappointment

Leo Migdal
-
cop30 saw important developments amid huge disappointment

This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage was first published in our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter, Imagine. Cop30 was never just another UN climate summit. Its setting in Belém, at the mouth of the Amazon, was a reminder that negotiations now unfold within the crisis they are meant to solve. Ultimately the summit, which wrapped up last weekend, was a disappointment. The core negotiations on emissions reductions produced an underwhelming deal, and many academics argue that these days the most exciting progress happens in the side events. Yet even as political negotiations faltered, Cop30 revealed the rising power of first-hand experience – from indigenous leaders and youth negotiators to people using stories not spreadsheets to cut through climate fatigue.

Brazil promised this would be the “implementation Cop” – one with more action than words, focused on the people most affected by climate change. But Simon Chin-Yee, who was at the negotiations in Belém, and his colleagues at UCL say it failed on that count. They note that over 5,000 indigenous people were at the summit, but that “only 360 secured passes to the main negotiating ‘blue zone’, compared to 1,600 delegates linked to the fossil fuel industry”. The 2025 UN climate talks wrapped on Saturday, Nov. 22 after negotiations pushed into overtime. The resulting decision secured some important wins, both inside and outside the negotiations.

But it omitted some of the big-ticket items many hoped to see. With efforts to halt temperature rise severely off track and climate disasters becoming ever-more destructive, the summit (COP30) aimed to establish clear pathways to deliver past pledges and put the world on a safer... A key question was how countries would address lagging ambition in their new climate commitments (NDCs). Hopes that countries would commit to roadmaps to end fossil fuel use and halt deforestation were ultimately dashed after opposition from petrostates. The final decision only included new voluntary initiatives to accelerate national climate action, though the Brazilian Presidency intends to move forward with fossil fuel and deforestation roadmaps outside of the formal COP talks. Building resilience to climate impacts took center stage, with COP30 securing a new target to triple finance for climate adaptation.

The COP also laid out practical solutions to increase finance for the low-carbon transition. In an era of trade wars and tariffs, negotiators also agreed for the first time to hold discussions on how trade policies can help — or hinder — climate action. Against the backdrop of the Amazon, nature also saw advances, including a new fund for tropical forest conservation. Indigenous Peoples and other local communities were recognized like never before. And outside the formal negotiations, the summit saw a raft of new pledges and action plans from cities, states, countries and the private sector. It is clear that we are moving from negotiations to implementation, and from wrangling over what to do to how to do it.

These victories matter. It shows that international cooperation can still deliver, despite deepening divides on climate action and a difficult geopolitical context. In three decades of these meetings aimed at forging global consensus on how to prevent and deal with global warming, this will go down as among the most divisive. Many countries were livid when COP30 in Belém, Brazil ended on Saturday with no mention of the fossil fuels that have heated up the atmosphere. Other nations - particularly those with most to gain from their continued production - felt vindicated. The summit was a reality check on just how much global consensus has broken down over what to do about climate change.

Here are five key takeaways from what some have called the "COP of truth". The most important thing to come out of COP30 is that the climate 'ship' is still afloat The 2025 UNFCCC COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil ended with widespread disillusionment, especially among developing nations. Despite high expectations, the summit failed to deliver firm financial commitments to tackle climate change. Developed countries reiterated promises but avoided binding targets. This outcome marks a growing trust deficit and raises concerns about global climate finance adequacy.

COP30 centred on the Mutirão political decision, aiming to implement climate finance goals. However, it resulted in vague promises without clear timelines or enforcement. UN Secretary-General António Guterres admitted the summit fell short of urgent scientific needs. The summit’s financial pledges remain far below what developing countries require to adapt and mitigate climate impacts. Developed countries pledged $100 billion annually by 2020 but only met this in 2022, eroding trust. The new goal set at COP29 in Baku targets $300 billion per year by 2035, far less than the $1.3 trillion requested by developing countries.

Global climate investment needs are estimated at $7.4 trillion annually by 2030. COP30’s voluntary Baku-to-Belém Roadmap lacks mandatory milestones, suggesting finance flows will stay near historical levels of $100-115 billion yearly. Adaptation finance is critical for vulnerable countries facing climate impacts. UNEP estimates require $215-387 billion annually by 2030, rising to $350 billion by 2035. Yet current adaptation funding is only about $40 billion. COP30’s pledge to triple adaptation finance by 2035 lacks baseline data, definitions, and enforcement, making it unverifiable.

Most climate finance is loan-based, increasing debt burdens for already indebted developing countries. COP30 was the first full session after launching the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF). The Fund’s governance improved but financial resources remain insufficient. Total pledges stand at $788.8 million with only $407 million available. No new large-scale pledges or replenishment plans were made, risking fund depletion by 2027. Without urgent funding, the LDF risks becoming ineffective.

People Also Search

This Roundup Of The Conversation’s Climate Coverage Was First Published

This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage was first published in our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter, Imagine. Cop30 was never just another UN climate summit. Its setting in Belém, at the mouth of the Amazon, was a reminder that negotiations now unfold within the crisis they are meant to solve. Ultimately the summit, which wrapped up last weekend, was a disappointment. The...

Brazil Promised This Would Be The “implementation Cop” – One

Brazil promised this would be the “implementation Cop” – one with more action than words, focused on the people most affected by climate change. But Simon Chin-Yee, who was at the negotiations in Belém, and his colleagues at UCL say it failed on that count. They note that over 5,000 indigenous people were at the summit, but that “only 360 secured passes to the main negotiating ‘blue zone’, compare...

But It Omitted Some Of The Big-ticket Items Many Hoped

But it omitted some of the big-ticket items many hoped to see. With efforts to halt temperature rise severely off track and climate disasters becoming ever-more destructive, the summit (COP30) aimed to establish clear pathways to deliver past pledges and put the world on a safer... A key question was how countries would address lagging ambition in their new climate commitments (NDCs). Hopes that c...

The COP Also Laid Out Practical Solutions To Increase Finance

The COP also laid out practical solutions to increase finance for the low-carbon transition. In an era of trade wars and tariffs, negotiators also agreed for the first time to hold discussions on how trade policies can help — or hinder — climate action. Against the backdrop of the Amazon, nature also saw advances, including a new fund for tropical forest conservation. Indigenous Peoples and other ...

These Victories Matter. It Shows That International Cooperation Can Still

These victories matter. It shows that international cooperation can still deliver, despite deepening divides on climate action and a difficult geopolitical context. In three decades of these meetings aimed at forging global consensus on how to prevent and deal with global warming, this will go down as among the most divisive. Many countries were livid when COP30 in Belém, Brazil ended on Saturday ...