The United Nations COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, concluded with a package of landmark decisions focused on scaling climate finance, advancing global cooperation, and strengthening implementation mechanisms—though it struggled to secure a consensus on phasing out fossil fuels.
Major Decisions and Substantial Commitments
Countries committed to mobilize at least $1.3 trillion annually for climate action by 2035 and to triple adaptation finance by the same year, with a particular emphasis on delivering support to developing nations.
The conference operationalized and replenished the loss and damage fund, providing a more structured and predictable response to climate impacts for the most vulnerable countries.
The “Belém Package” included 29 decisions on just transition, adaptation, trade, gender, and technology, and it introduced 59 new voluntary indicators to assist with tracking progress on adaptation across all key sectors.
New Initiatives and Implementation Focus
COP30 was marked as the “COP of Implementation,” with over 122 countries submitting new or updated national climate plans, and the launch of practical solutions spanning energy systems, forest restoration, and health.
The Global Implementation Accelerator was established to support countries in meeting their national climate goals, alongside the “Belém Mission to 1.5” platform designed to drive ambition on keeping temperatures below 1.5°C.
Brazil announced two major presidency-led roadmaps: one to halt and reverse deforestation and another for transitioning away from fossil fuels, though the final agreement fell short of committing all parties to the fossil fuel phaseout.
Nature-Based Solutions and Social Progress
The launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility introduced over $6.7 billion in first-phase finance aimed at results-based conservation of tropical forests, with direct support to Indigenous and local communities.
Seventeen countries joined the Blue NDC Challenge to embed ocean-based climate action within national policy. Plans for ocean conservation, renewable energy, and blue jobs (20 million by 2030) were also announced.
Co-Leads: Brazil, France, Initial Signatories: Australia, Chile, Fiji, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Palau, Seychelles, United Kingdom, New Members (Joined at COP30): Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Indonesia, Portugal, Singapore
Transparency, Accountability, and Economic Systems
Parties agreed on a new Global Climate Finance Accountability Framework to improve transparency in tracking financial flows and delivery, moving climate finance commitments from fragmented pledges to measurable support.
A new dialogue process on climate and trade was launched, working with global institutions to ensure trade measures do not create new barriers and support effective climate action.
Challenges and Unfinished Business
While more than 80 countries supported a formal fossil fuel phase-out roadmap, last-minute negotiations saw this reduced to a general reference to “transitioning away from fossil fuels,” echoing language from previous summits.
The final agreement did not satisfy all parties or stakeholders, with vocal criticism from civil society and vulnerable countries regarding the lack of explicit fossil fuel commitments.
Social Movements and Public Engagement
COP30 saw record involvement from Indigenous peoples, robust civic mobilization, and new initiatives connecting climate action to everyday life, health, jobs, education, and equity