More than 10 days of tight negotiations, hundreds of countries and delegations, before finally unanimously approving the so-called Global Mutirão, which contains no explicit reference to fossil fuels: here we never talk about oil, coal or gas as sources to be abandoned.
In fact, the document limits itself to introducing generic tools, such as aglobal implementation accelerator” and a “Belém mission towards 1.5 °C”, but there is no binding and clear roadmap to phase out the use of fossil fuels.
Likewise, while more than 90 countries supported an implementation plan to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030, broader political will to secure this goal was lacking, despite the Amazon forest as the backdrop to the summit. In response, the COP presidency announced that Brazil will lead international discussions on roadmaps as presidential initiatives. The Brazilian presidency will last until the next COP, which initiatives will be presented at COP31.
What came out of COP30
The text of Mutirão Decision it has turned into the main battleground between the European Union and, on the other side, the Arab countries and the LMDC group (which includes countries such as India, China, Saudi Arabia and Bolivia).
- Adaptation: A new financial target dedicated to climate adaptation was introduced, but strong opposition from developed countries weakened its scope. The deadline has been postponed from 2030 to 2035 and, although there is talk of tripling the funds up to 120 billion dollars, the plant remains anchored to the package agreed in Baku, which also includes loans and other mixed sources
- Unilateral trade measures: China managed to get recognition of the harmful nature of these measures inserted into the text. A three-year dialogue was established, in response to requests from developing countries
- Public funding: A two-year work program related to Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement has been launched. However, to accommodate the positions of industrialized countries, the issue has been brought back to the general framework of article 9, which includes different sources of financing
- Implementation of the Paris Agreement: this is undoubtedly the most fragile element. The creation of a generic is expected Global Implementation Acceleratorwith the task of “supporting countries” in implementing their climate objectives, without operational details. A report will be drawn up by the presidencies of COP30 (Brazil) and COP31 (Türkiye) and presented by the end of 2026. The Belém mission for 1.5°Calso lasting three years, led by COP 29, 30 and 31.
In his inaugural speech, Lula emphasized the need to overcome dependence on fossil fuels and eliminate deforestation. The two proposals garnered the support of 82 countries, but failed to overcome the united opposition of oil and gas producers, including the Gulf countries and some Brics members.
Colombia, on the other hand, has played an important role by presenting a road map for a “just and equitable” exit from fossil fuels, which will be the focus of a conference scheduled for April and supported by the Netherlands. During the final plenary, COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago announced the official launch of two road maps, one on the energy transition and the other on the fight against deforestation, which he will guide with his presidency for next year.
The 3 key points
1) Just transition: according to the document, by the next Conference, COP31, an institutional mechanism will be developed, the Belém Action Mechanism (BAM). Furthermore, the importance of public funding to allow developing countries to have a fair transition was reiterated.
An important outcome of the COP is the decision to establish a fair transition mechanism to promote international cooperation – say the WWF. The COP preamble also mentions indigenous peoples, local communities and Afro-descendants, as well as oceans, forests and science.
2) Indicators for Adaptation (GGA): 59 official indicators were approved (although some states aimed for 100). A defined two-year political alignment process is expected Belém-Addis Adaptation Vision.
3) Indigenous and Afro-descendant populations: for the first time, not only the rights of indigenous peoples – including those on land – but also those of Afro-descendant communities are recognized in the UNFCCC texts. Their inclusion appears in the Mutirão text, in the GGA indicators, in the gender action plan and in the decision on the transition programme.
A decision that certainly marks some very small progress, but is not ready, even this time, to directly address the roots of the climate crisis: fossil fuels and deforestation still remain the elephants in the room.
HERE is the final document.
