overnments and stakeholders will gather in Belem, Brazil on November 10 for the COP30 climate talks. Several recurring themes have space carved out on the agenda: adaptation, finance, mitigation, and technology transfer—climate finance is a very clear focal point this year. All of this takes place within six “Action Agenda” axes for the summit: Energy, Industry, and transport; forest, oceans, and biodiversity; agriculture and food systems; cities, infrastructure, and water; human and social development; and cross–cutting issues. Brazil, as host and president of the proceedings, has also announced plans for an ambitious new initiative on preserving forests.
Context
As stakeholders converge on Belem, the world’s climate efforts are in a precarious place. Gaps are widening—both emissions gaps and climate finance gaps. Energy transition progress, outside of a few spaces like renewables and electric vehicles, is slowing. All of these trends are entrenched or at least facilitated by geopolitical tensions and economic volatility. Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization this week announced 2025 will is be the second or third hottest year on record, and according to at least some scientists, we have now passed our first global climate tipping point.
What’s on the agenda
Heading into COP 30, here’s what to expect:
Alternative energies in focus. Traditional renewable energy continues to be a bright point in the energy transition, but with emissions continuing to rise there is growing interest in other sources of energy. International Renewable Energy Agency Director–General Francesco La Camera predicts that sustainable biofuels will be a focal point at COP. This drive is backed by Brazil, though Brazil’s take may be controversial, according to leaked documents.
Absence of an official high–level U.S. delegation brings uncertainty. U.S. President Trump has said there will be no high–level U.S. delegation at COP 30. That doesn’t exactly answer the question of what presence the U.S. will have, which has climate diplomats preparing for different scenarios. While there won’t be an official high–level delegation, observers expect there to be dozens of sub–national leaders from the U.S. present, and President Trump has the option to send negotiators at any time during the gathering. Reactions to the absence of a U.S. delegation vary, but at least some attendees welcome the absence in the current geopolitical context.
Brazil’s agenda is ambitious, but controversial. Brazil has signalled ambitions for a focus on forest preservation, inequality, and climate justice. For many this is a welcome sign that this COP may focus more on implementation than pledges—and Brazil has made significant progress on combating deforestation. At the same time, critics have pointed to a new highway Brazil built through the Amazon specifically for COP30, new oil drilling projects along the Amazon, and Brazil’s plan to restart hydropower development along the Amazon despite human rights and climate concerns.
Climate finance is once again the biggest stumbling point. At COP29, parties agreed to $300 billion a year in funding for climate finance, with commitments for increasing that funding to $1.3 trillion per year by 2035. The UNFCC has published a roadmap to $1.3 trillion, but what the funding mechanisms would look like is still unclear. The $300 billion goal appears more achievable to most observers, though there is substantial concern about the U.S. pullback from financing and how that will affect progress made over the past few years. Meanwhile, climate change impact finance is in such dire straits that the latest UNEP report on adaptation funding is subtitled: “Running on Empty.”
What they’re saying
So if a player of that magnitude basically says, ‘Well, I’m going to leave and have it all sorted out by the rest of you,’ clearly, that does damage. Wopke Hoekstra, EU Climate Commissioner (on the U.S. absence from COP30)
COP30 in Belém will be the COP of truth. It will be the moment for world leaders to prove the seriousness of their commitment to the planet. Without a complete picture of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), we will walk blindfolded toward the abyss. Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
This COP must ignite a decade of acceleration and delivery…The 1.5°C limit is a red line for humanity. It must be kept within reach. UN Secretary–General António Guterres
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At COP 30: Mitigate, adapt, but above all finance
Image by Iury de Mello from Pixaba
November 7, 2025
Brazil is hosting this year’s COP30 climate talks. From the absence of the U.S. in climate talks to Brazil’s ambitious leadership proposals to global tipping points, this year’s gathering will deal with many complex dynamics.
G
overnments and stakeholders will gather in Belem, Brazil on November 10 for the COP30 climate talks. Several recurring themes have space carved out on the agenda: adaptation, finance, mitigation, and technology transfer—climate finance is a very clear focal point this year. All of this takes place within six “Action Agenda” axes for the summit: Energy, Industry, and transport; forest, oceans, and biodiversity; agriculture and food systems; cities, infrastructure, and water; human and social development; and cross–cutting issues. Brazil, as host and president of the proceedings, has also announced plans for an ambitious new initiative on preserving forests.
Context
As stakeholders converge on Belem, the world’s climate efforts are in a precarious place. Gaps are widening—both emissions gaps and climate finance gaps. Energy transition progress, outside of a few spaces like renewables and electric vehicles, is slowing. All of these trends are entrenched or at least facilitated by geopolitical tensions and economic volatility. Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization this week announced 2025 will is be the second or third hottest year on record, and according to at least some scientists, we have now passed our first global climate tipping point.
What’s on the agenda
Heading into COP 30, here’s what to expect:
Alternative energies in focus. Traditional renewable energy continues to be a bright point in the energy transition, but with emissions continuing to rise there is growing interest in other sources of energy. International Renewable Energy Agency Director–General Francesco La Camera predicts that sustainable biofuels will be a focal point at COP. This drive is backed by Brazil, though Brazil’s take may be controversial, according to leaked documents.
Absence of an official high–level U.S. delegation brings uncertainty. U.S. President Trump has said there will be no high–level U.S. delegation at COP 30. That doesn’t exactly answer the question of what presence the U.S. will have, which has climate diplomats preparing for different scenarios. While there won’t be an official high–level delegation, observers expect there to be dozens of sub–national leaders from the U.S. present, and President Trump has the option to send negotiators at any time during the gathering. Reactions to the absence of a U.S. delegation vary, but at least some attendees welcome the absence in the current geopolitical context.
Brazil’s agenda is ambitious, but controversial. Brazil has signalled ambitions for a focus on forest preservation, inequality, and climate justice. For many this is a welcome sign that this COP may focus more on implementation than pledges—and Brazil has made significant progress on combating deforestation. At the same time, critics have pointed to a new highway Brazil built through the Amazon specifically for COP30, new oil drilling projects along the Amazon, and Brazil’s plan to restart hydropower development along the Amazon despite human rights and climate concerns.
Climate finance is once again the biggest stumbling point. At COP29, parties agreed to $300 billion a year in funding for climate finance, with commitments for increasing that funding to $1.3 trillion per year by 2035. The UNFCC has published a roadmap to $1.3 trillion, but what the funding mechanisms would look like is still unclear. The $300 billion goal appears more achievable to most observers, though there is substantial concern about the U.S. pullback from financing and how that will affect progress made over the past few years. Meanwhile, climate change impact finance is in such dire straits that the latest UNEP report on adaptation funding is subtitled: “Running on Empty.”
What they’re saying
So if a player of that magnitude basically says, ‘Well, I’m going to leave and have it all sorted out by the rest of you,’ clearly, that does damage. Wopke Hoekstra, EU Climate Commissioner (on the U.S. absence from COP30)
COP30 in Belém will be the COP of truth. It will be the moment for world leaders to prove the seriousness of their commitment to the planet. Without a complete picture of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), we will walk blindfolded toward the abyss. Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
This COP must ignite a decade of acceleration and delivery…The 1.5°C limit is a red line for humanity. It must be kept within reach. UN Secretary–General António Guterres
