Dr, Champa Patel, Executive Director of Governments and Policy at Climate Group, said in response to the final outcome of the COP30 negotiations:
It is hard not to feel disappointed. At a moment when the world urgently needed clarity on the transition away from fossil fuels, COP30 failed to rise to the challenge. Despite unprecedented pressure from governments, civil society and the real economy, negotiators produced no concrete commitments to move beyond fossil fuels and no agreed process for countries to advance this work. Real transformation requires clear timelines, fairness at the centre, and the finance and cooperation to make it possible — none of which materialised.
Progress on adaptation was a mixed bag. While there was at least a political nod toward efforts to triple adaptation finance by 2035. But no new link is created between countries’ adaptation needs, the new indicators, and the finance required to meet them. The Adaptation Fund’s mandated USD 300 million target was not reached, and the text explicitly notes that the indicators create no new financial obligations at all. Communities already living with climate impacts cannot do anything with indicators unsupported by resources — this is not progress; it is a step backwards dressed as technical completion.
And on multilevel action — the front line of implementation — we needed more progress. This COP was billed as the moment when cities, states and regions would finally be given the tools to help deliver national and global climate goals. Instead, we are left with familiar acknowledgements and no mechanism to empower the governments that regulate, build and protect communities every day. At this stage, the world needs tools, not platitudes.
COP30 was meant to mark a shift from rhetoric to delivery. Instead, it has fallen short in many important areas. BUT – and it is a big BUT – there was also incredible dynamism and momentum generated by ‘coalitions of the willing.’ Whether it was the 24 countries that signed up to the Colombia Belem Declaration on a just transition away from fossil fuels; the 80+ countries that mobilised to get behind a call to phase away from fossil fuels; over 130+ companies and Under2 coalition co-chairs supporting this call; or the Colombia-Netherlands announcement of the first ever international conference on fossil fuel phaseout there is a movement that can be built on.
And, despite push back from the usual suspects on fossil fuel phaseout it was agreed to launch a Global Implementation Accelerator tied to the UAE consensus (which explicitly noted fossil fuels). While there is always a risk that process trumps any meaningful action, it is promising that it is required to report back to COP31.
And powerfully, Ambassador do Lago call that the Brazil Presidency will create two roadmaps - one on halting and reversing deforestation and another on transition away from fossil fuels - in a just orderly and equitable manner creates a space to keep building political momentum.
This is in addition to countries agreeing the UAE Just Transition Mechanism – a genuinely landmark moment – through which initiatives can finally be tracked within and outside the UNFCCC. This is the first effort to provide real structure and support for fair, inclusive climate transitions. There’s more to do on finance and delivery, especially for vulnerable communities, but this marks a pivotal shift from concept to action.
The task now is to rethink the process itself: to have the bravery to imagine and create new spaces where willing countries can work with partners - such as subnational governments and business - to push the fossil-fuel transition forward. Real systemic change requires all actors at the table. If multilateralism won’t move, those ready to act must.
ENDS
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For more than two decades, Climate Group has been driving climate action. Fast. Our goal is a world of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with greater prosperity for all. We focus on systems with the highest emissions and where our networks have the greatest opportunity to drive change. We have built coalitions of over 600 ambitious companies through initiatives focused on energy, transport, and the decarbonisation of heavy industry (steel and concrete). We hold our members to account, turning commitments into action. We are the organisers of Climate Week NYC and are the secretariat of the Under2 Coalition, the largest global network of states, regions, provinces and other subnational governments committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. We are an international non-profit organisation with offices in London, Amsterdam, Beijing, New Delhi and New York. We are proud to be part of the We Mean Business coalition.
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