By Dr. Gyan Pathak
COP30 (30th Conference of the Parties) 2025 has begun under the aegis of UN Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) on November 10 at Belem (Amazonia) under the Brazilian Presidency with numerous challenges but with great hope. It would conclude on November 21, and in the meantime there are several key issues to watch, which include global politics, trade, and militarism that are creeping into the climate talks.
At the opening of COP30, the President of the Republic of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva outlined three pillars of action to guide the COP30 negotiations: fulfilling the climate commitments already undertaken, strengthening global governance, and placing people at the center of climate-related decisions.“We are moving in the right direction, but at the wrong speed,” Lula has warned.
President Lula advocated the creation of a Global Climate Council linked to the United Nations General Assembly to ensure greater coordination and political accountability among countries. “We need institutions that are up to the scale of the crisis we are facing,” he said. “his COP must be remembered as the COP of Action — a conference that turns commitments into results. It is time to integrate climate, economy, and development, creating jobs, reducing inequalities, and strengthening trust among nations.”
The President of COP29, Mukhtar Babayev, symbolically handed over the leadership of the global climate process to the Brazilian presidency, emphasizing that the world is entering “a new era of implementation.”“COP30 inaugurates the first full delivery cycle of the Paris Agreement. From now on, there is no room for promises without action. This is the decade of execution, solidarity, and credibility,” he said.
Let us have a look at the progress so far. The host country Brazil is placing emphasis on forest protection. Given the Amazon context, the region in which COP30 is being held, the conference has acquired a special significance for protection of not only the forests of the world but its biodiversity.
The key themes for COP30 include updating national climate plans (NDCs), scaling up climate finance (especially for developing countries), accelerating decarbonisation and energy transition, protecting forests and biodiversity, and enhancing adaptation and resilience. There is a strong sense that COP30 must mark “acceleration” — not just paying lip service to climate goals but showing a pathway to implementation.
Nevertheless, what has happened so far is not satisfactory, as Lula’s statement suggests. The COP30 Presidency has set up a “Thematic Days” calendar spanning some 30 themes, aiming for inclusive-implementation. Earlier this year, the “road to Belém” was established: virtual briefings, retreats (e.g., in Shamakhi, Azerbaijan) to prepare Heads of Delegation for COP30.But there have been signs of tension: e.g., during mid-year Bonn talks, disagreement on agenda items and delayed negotiation texts.
Under the Paris Agreement, countries are expected to update their climate action plans. For COP30, this is a major milestone. However, even after six months, only 21 countries had submitted updated climate targets. The low submission rate raises questions about ambition and readiness at COP30.
At the COP29, there was agreement on a “Baku to Belém Roadmap” which set the ambition of scaling up climate finance for developing countries to US$ 1.3 trillion per year by 2035. However, much of the work ahead of COP30 revolved round the question how to operationalise it, such as who pays, how much, how split between public/private, and how to ensure fairness. For example, during the summit India emphasised that “equitable, predictable, and concessional climate finance” is the cornerstone.
Nature-based solutions are now high on the agenda. There is also emphasis on recognising land tenure rights for indigenous and traditional communities. Even UN Chief called out indigenous voices in the opening ceremony.
The critical challenge remains as it is. The world is not on track to stay within the 1.5 °C, as agreed in the Paris Agreement of 2015, which entered into force in 2016. The energy-security vs decarbonisation tension is very much visible. It is still uncertain whether countries will commit to phasing down fossil fuels meaningfully, and not just slowing growth.
It is also worth noting that some major emitters or developed countries are under pressure. For instance, the US absence or weak participation has already been flagged, in addition to the interplay of global politics, trade, militarism that are creeping into the climate talks.
The key issues to watch include – Can countries keep the global warming below 1.5°Calive? To keep it alive and effective, negotiations will need to show clarity on how to “bend the curve” of emission, not just talk about it. Uncertainty has already created in the regard and blame game is on.
As of climate finance, we have an ambition of 1.3 trillion per year by 2035, but no operational detail is ready. Developing countries are demanding developed countries must meet their past promises and scale up support.
Pressure is mounting at COP30 for concrete commitments on fossil fuels, just transition, and avoiding carbon lock-in. It would not be out of place to mention that earlier COPs have the term “transition away from fossil fuels”, but there were few binding deadlines.
We have great hope from COP30 that it would come out with appropriated strategies to convert promises into action in terms of frameworks, financing mechanisms, and measurable targets. Monitoring, verification, and tracking progress is under spotlight.
India is playing a significant role in COP30 and has already reiterated that equitable, predictable, concessional finance in the cornerstone of successful global climate action. India is pushing for climate justice, differentiated responsibilities, and arguing for strong support for adaptation given its vulnerability.
COP30 is considered by many analysts as a pivotal, potentially “make-or-break” moment, given the geopolitical tensions, energy crunches, and competing priorities of the nations. (IPA Service)
