As world leaders, scientists, and civil society gather in Belém, Brazil for COP30, one of the most important United Nations climate summits yet, you may hear two terms being used: the formal agenda and the action agenda. Both are essential to how a COP functions, but they serve very different purposes. So what’s the difference, and why does it matter?

The Formal Agenda: Where Negotiations Happen

The formal agenda is the official, legal part of the COP, where countries sit down to negotiate and make decisions that can shape international climate policy for years to come.

These discussions happen between government delegates and are guided by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Every word and comma can matter because the outcomes, known as decisions, are legally recognised under international climate agreements such as the Paris Agreement.

Typical items on the formal agenda at COP30 include:

• Finalising the new global climate finance goal to replace the current $100 billion annual commitment, a key point of contention between developed and developing nations.
• Progress on national climate plans (NDCs), which countries must strengthen ahead of 2025 to stay aligned with the 1.5°C temperature goal.
• The Global Goal on Adaptation, helping countries prepare for and adapt to climate impacts.
• Loss and Damage Fund implementation, ensuring vulnerable nations receive support after climate-related disasters.

These negotiations are often slow and technical, but they are vital. They determine how countries will collectively act, measure progress, and hold each other accountable.

The Action Agenda: Where Implementation Comes to Life

While the formal talks take place behind closed doors, the action agenda, sometimes called the “non-negotiated” or “implementation” track, brings the COP to life in a more public and practical way.

This is where cities, businesses, NGOs, researchers, youth, and indigenous communities share ideas, launch initiatives, and showcase solutions. It’s about action, not negotiation, demonstrating how commitments can be turned into reality.

Examples of action agenda items at COP30 include:

• The launch of new initiatives to protect the Amazon and promote sustainable forest economies.
• Partnerships on renewable energy, including collaborations between governments and private investors.
• Events on climate education and literacy, such as those led by the Royal Meteorological Society and university partners.
• Panels featuring indigenous leaders and local communities, showing how traditional knowledge supports climate resilience.

These discussions don’t create binding commitments, but they inspire, connect, and push progress forward on the ground, often faster than the formal process can.

Why Both Matter

In short, the formal agenda shapes the rules of the global response to climate change, while the action agenda drives the real-world momentum behind those rules. Think of the formal agenda as setting the destination and the action agenda as showing the many routes we can take to get there. Without both, COPs would lose their power: one provides structure and accountability, the other provides energy and innovation. Understanding these two sides helps us appreciate how global climate progress really happens: through negotiation and through action.

Explore more COP30 updates from RMetS