Belem, Brasil is a small, working-class port city in the state of Para and sits at the mouth of the Amazon River. It was chosen as the host city for the 30th Conference of Parties (COP) for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in part, to showcase the importance of Indigenous voices and the beauty of our lush, natural rainforests. Leading up to the event, COP30 in Belem was billed as the “Implementation COP”, the “Indigenous People’s” COP, and even “Tropical Rainforest COP”, thus, expectations were high that Brasil’s influence as host country would catalyze real progress towards implementing solutions aimed at lowering greenhouse gases and protecting our vulnerable lands, peoples, and forests. Alas, expectations were not met. This year’s progress can only be characterized as incremental, not profound.
What are the wins from COP30?
Record numbers of Indigenous communities were in attendance which took front and center both in, and outside, of the venue. COP30 was intended to be a place to raise awareness on large-scale deforestation, mining, and oil & gas activities that disproportionately impact Indigenous communities. The Tropical Forest Forever Fund (TFFF) was launched as a financing mechanism for forest conservation and received pledges reaching into the billions. However, like the Loss and Damage Fund, established in Dubai at COP28, the funds are woefully inadequate to be effective. Trillions, not billions, are needed. The establishment of the fund is an incremental win, but the lack of funds, and the lack of agreement on an actual deforestation plan is disappointing.
Across each COP, have there been long term wins?
Yes, indeed, especially for technology and capacity building. The technology framework established by the UNFCCC, and implementation through the Climate Technology Centre and Network, are up and running and continue to grow. These bodies represent real solutions to real communities. Although they never really take center stage, they march along and represent the quiet work at the COPs, convening to discuss timelines, data access, capacity building, and the like. Negotiating documents that control these efforts are not usually contentious but rather find consensus with relative ease.
Are there long-term disappointments?
Yes, of course, and as a scientist, the most profound disappointment is the continued attempt to dilute established, peer-reviewed science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, another UN body). This is nothing new and has been happening since the inception of UNFCCC and COPs, yet some COPs are more successful than others in allowing science to stand and speak. The world needs to transition away, and phase out, fossil fuels, based on the increasingly overwhelming scientific evidence. As nations, we still quibble over the words “fossil fuels” and fail to call out what needs to be done. There are many things at play explaining the root cause of this problem, some obvious, others not. Many developing countries still rely on fossil fuels for their economies and argue that the biggest polluters need to bear the brunt of emissions reduction. Fair point, and one where I concur. However, other oil & gas interests hide behind the very reasonable notion of a “just” transition and disingenuously lend their voice, not because they support developing Global South countries, but because their interests lie in continued dominance of the energy industry. A bitter pill to swallow, one that was again given to us in Belem. As the gavel closed on COP30, final statements were weakened to remove any explicit mention of fossil fuels.
Where do we go from here?
I have listed a number of disappointments thus far, yet, I still have optimism. It is an optimism not born from blind faith, nor is it an optimism that ignores failures. It is optimism and hope buoyed from my steadfast commitment and determination to doggedly move forward and continue necessary work. My work is in science; yours might be in policymaking, capacity building, education, engineering, as jurists, or whatever resonates with you. Despite its flaws, the COP is what we have and without it we have no voice. Whatever your work is, let us be determined and move forward.
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