What did COP30 deliver?

The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Belém, Brazil, represented a highly symbolic and politically significant moment in global climate governance. For the first time, a COP was hosted on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, placing one of the world’s most critical ecosystems at the centre of international climate negotiations. COP30 was widely described as the “implementation COP,” expected to move beyond commitments and translate the goals of the Paris Agreement and the 2023 Global Stocktake into concrete, real-world action. While the conference delivered meaningful progress in several areas, it also revealed persistent gaps between ambition and what climate science indicates is necessary.

Stronger new climate commitments, but there is still a long way to go

A key focus of COP30 was the submission of new or updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to regularly strengthen their climate plans to limit global warming to well below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to cap temperature rise at 1.5°C. Ahead of the conference, the European Union submitted a new NDC, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 66.25% to 72.5% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. This target is aligned with the EU’s legally binding goal of achieving a 90% net emissions reduction by 2040 and climate neutrality by 2050. Several other major economies, including Brazil, Japan, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, South Africa, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, also presented strengthened climate plans in the lead-up to COP30.

According to the UNFCCC’s 2025 Synthesis Report, by the time of the conference 113 Parties had submitted new or updated NDCs, covering nearly 80% of global emissions. By the end of COP30, that number had risen to more than 122 Parties. Collectively, these pledges would reduce global emissions to approximately 12% below 2019 levels by 2035. While this represents a significant improvement compared to a scenario without the Paris Agreement, where emissions were projected to increase by 20–48% by 2035, it remains insufficient to fully align with the Paris temperature goals. Some of the world’s largest emitters have yet to submit ambitious enough targets, highlighting an ongoing shortfall in global climate ambition.

Adaptation and climate finance

Adaptation to climate change emerged as one of the most pressing priorities at COP30, particularly for developing countries that are already experiencing severe climate impacts. Building on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance agreed at COP29 in Baku, Parties reaffirmed the objective of mobilising at least USD 300 billion per year in public climate finance by 2035, as part of a broader target of USD 1.3 trillion annually from both public and private sources. Developing countries strongly advocated for increased funding for adaptation measures, such as flood protection, drought-resilient water systems and climate-resilient infrastructure, which historically attract less private investment than mitigation projects.

In response, Parties agreed to call for efforts to at least triple adaptation finance by 2035 within the NCQG framework. The European Union reiterated its position that a larger share of climate finance should be directed toward adaptation and resilience. In 2024, the EU and its Member States remained the world’s largest providers of climate finance, contributing €31.7 billion, approximately half of which supported adaptation efforts. Countries also advanced work on adaptation indicators, aimed at measuring whether adaptation actions are genuinely improving safety and resilience for vulnerable communities.

Transition away from fossil fuels and collective action

The transition away from fossil fuels was another central issue during the second week of negotiations. Calls intensified for strong language reflecting the Global Stocktake decision adopted at COP28 in Dubai, which recognised the need to move away from fossil fuels in energy systems. The Brazilian concept of mutirão, referring to collective, community-driven effort, became a guiding theme, underscoring the necessity of coordinated global action at scale.

The EU emphasised that this transition is already underway domestically. Over the past decade, the Union has more than halved its coal consumption, significantly reduced its reliance on fossil gas, and rapidly expanded renewable energy. In 2024, renewables accounted for 47% of the EU electricity mix, and overall final energy consumption continued to decline. Through initiatives such as the European Green Deal, the Fit for 55 package and REPowerEU, the EU presented itself as evidence that a managed fossil-fuel transition can enhance energy security, lower costs for citizens and foster new industrial opportunities.

At COP30, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to the COP28 pledges to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030. A coalition of more than 80 countries, led by Brazil and including the EU and its Member States, launched a new partnership dedicated to transitioning away from fossil fuels, while stressing the importance of just-transition measures to protect workers and communities.

Social dimension, forests, and inclusion

The social dimension of climate action gained renewed attention. COP30 outcomes included the establishment of a Just Transition Mechanism aimed at supporting workers, vulnerable communities and affected regions during the shift to a low carbon, climate-resilient economy. The EU strongly supported a just Transition Action Plan and promoted inclusive dialogue with labour organisations, Indigenous Peoples, youth groups and civil society. Gender equality was also prioritised, resulting in the adoption of a new Belém Gender Action Plan recognising the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women and girls and their essential role in decision making.

Beyond negotiations, COP30 strengthened several key initiatives related to carbon markets and forest protection. The EU supported the launch of an Open Coalition on Compliance Carbon Markets to improve the credibility and effectiveness of carbon pricing mechanisms while preventing greenwashing. On forests, the EU endorsed the Tropical Forest Forever Facility and renewed commitments to halt and reverse deforestation in the Congo Basin by 2030.

In conclusion, COP30 did not fully deliver the level of ambition many countries and stakeholders had hoped for. Nevertheless, it demonstrated that multilateral cooperation remains capable of producing tangible outcomes, even amid geopolitical challenges and the absence of the United States. The conference marked a transition from promises to implementation, while making clear that far greater urgency and ambition are still required. COP30 ended with cautious optimism, paired with a recognition that the world must accelerate climate action dramatically in the coming years.