Gathered in the Brazilian Amazon, COP30 concluded its sessions with a series of important decisions aimed at supporting the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Financial aspects dominated the announcements, while the issue of phasing out fossil fuels remained unresolved, leaving several delegations and civil society organizations wanting.
At the time of reflecting on the outcomes, Simon Stiell, head of UN Climate, praised the emergence of “a new economy” in response to an outdated model made obsolete by its environmental impact. Discussions extended late into the night from Friday to Saturday, leading to an agreement focused on financial support and the operationalization of mechanisms established at previous summits.
Countries committed to mobilizing an annual budget of $1.3 trillion for climate action by 2035, led by developed economies. Funding for adaptation must be doubled by 2025 and tripled by 2035, while the fund for loss and damage officially enters its implementation phase. Belém also sees the creation of two initiatives — the Global Implementation Accelerator and the 1.5 °C Mission — aimed at enhancing ambition and capacity for action. For the first time, the fight against climate misinformation is included in a COP text.
While these advancements mark a turning point, the absence of an explicit commitment to phasing out fossil fuels remains a contentious issue. This omission raised concerns among several South American countries, within the European Union, and among civil society coalitions, especially since these fuels are the primary source of emissions.
This edition, the first held in the heart of the Amazon, comes after a warning from the UN highlighting the increasing difficulty of limiting warming to 1.5 °C without temporary overshoot. The final text thus maintains a pragmatic orientation: to strengthen funding, activate already decided mechanisms, and progress step-by-step towards more robust climate action.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva presented this summit as “the COP of truth.” While he acknowledges that the outcome does not meet all expectations, the conference president, André Corrêa do Lago, assured that the work will continue. Two roadmaps must now be developed: one to halt and then reverse deforestation, and another to establish a just transition away from fossil fuels.
The path to a compromise has not been easy. Protests from indigenous communities temporarily blocked access to the negotiation area, and a fire disrupted discussions at a crucial moment. Delegations ultimately found common ground focused on financial support and bolstering the achievements of previous COPs.
Since the G20 summit in Johannesburg, António Guterres has praised the ability of countries to reach an agreement in a tense geopolitical context. However, he reminded that the prospect of exceeding the 1.5 °C threshold should serve as a call to urgency, urging rapid emission reductions and massive deployment of financing.
Simon Stiell also emphasized the importance of the adopted decisions. He highlighted the Mutirão text, which merges four sensitive negotiation blocks into a unified agreement, accompanied by around ten other decisions. The document affirms the “irreversible” nature of the global transition towards resilient, low-carbon development, stressing its economic and social benefits. It also notes that investments in renewable energy now exceed those in fossil fuels at a ratio of two to one, a significant dynamic for future political and economic choices.
The Brazilian presidency also highlights the voluntary commitments recorded parallel to the negotiations. The Tropical Forest Preservation Fund now brings together 53 countries and has mobilized $5.5 billion. The Belém Health Action Plan, focused on climate-related health risks, launches with $300 million provided by 35 foundations. The UNEZA alliance, composed of public utility companies, commits to annual investments of several billion dollars in renewable energy and transport and storage infrastructure. A coalition representing 25,000 buildings claims to have reduced its CO₂ emissions by 850,000 tons in 2024. Lastly, a mechanism dedicated to a just transition is set to enhance the sharing of expertise and technical capacities of states.
The Belém conference thus concludes with clear advances in financing and cooperation, while leaving the question of phasing out fossil fuels unresolved, an essential aspect to keep the 1.5 °C target within reach.
Source: News.un.org