See what progresses and what stops

Frustration over the absence of a road map to stop fossil fuels characterized the final outcome of the conference. The idea initially gained traction, but diplomats from Europe, Latin America and island nations were unable to get China and India on board.

The idea of ​​developing a map against deforestation has also gained momentum. Reducing deforestation in the Amazon region has put Brazil at the top of the agenda, but the agenda requires the involvement of agents from the productive sector who work to develop forests, especially livestock in Brazil, palm oil producers in Indonesia, and mining companies in the Congo Basin.

The issue of adaptation has gained strength with the realization that the dangerous limit of global temperature rise of 1.5°C will be exceeded. Countries have adopted 59 indicators to assess adaptation progress and have promised to raise $120 billion annually for this sector by 2035. However, there is a lack of clarity on how to achieve this goal.

The decision on just transition was the one most celebrated by representatives of vulnerable groups, such as indigenous people, blacks and women. It addresses how the transformations needed to combat climate change need to avoid distortions and protect workers from the climate crisis and the economic impacts of this transformation.

Brazil’s trump card at COP30 is not in the official text. Together with partners, the country launched the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF), a financial mechanism to reward those who conserve forests. However, the initial round of investment only added US$6 billion of the expected US$25 billion, and progress must be made in negotiations.

The negotiations on financing from rich to poor countries were driven by a document prepared by the presidencies of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) and the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) with a roadmap to reach a flow of US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035. However, this proposal was mentioned vaguely in the final text, with no practical consequences.

Brazil’s proposal to create a voluntary carbon markets alliance has gained more strength, with 19 countries joining it. The integration of these markets will allow companies from rich countries to invest in reducing emissions in poor countries. It also makes it harder for carbon taxes to lead to tariff wars.

120 of the 195 signatories to the Paris Agreement have provided so-called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These are targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The commitments are considered insufficient to keep the planet below a limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.

The COP30 was the scene of dozens of demonstrations every day, inside and outside the negotiating area, following three COPs in which the demonstrations were contested. The climate march, held on Saturday in the middle of the conference, brought tens of thousands of people to the streets of Belém to call for action against the climate crisis.