The 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) kicked off in Belém, Brazil, drawing more than 56,000 participants, making it the second-largest climate conference ever, behind only COP28 in Dubai. Here’s a breakdown of the major developments, key themes and tensions from the first week.

The Context and Setting

Hosted in Belém, at the heart of the Amazon Basin, COP30 is taking place amid heightened global attention on forests, biodiversity and indigenous rights. The Brazilian government has emphasised unprecedented indigenous participation with around 2,500 indigenous delegates attending. Yet access remained limited with only around 14% (~360 individuals) of indigenous attendees secured accreditation for the negotiating area. 

Meanwhile, fossil-fuel and agribusiness lobbyists made a strong showing with about one in every 25 registered participants (~1,600) is a fossil-fuel lobbyist. And the US notably did not send high-level leadership to the summit, its absence looms as a symbolic gap in global solidarity. 

Climate Finance: Loss & Damage Fund and the $1.3 Trillion Roadmap

The long-anticipated Loss and Damage Fund (initially agreed at COP27) has launched its first call for project proposals, totalling US$250 million initially. Vulnerable countries can apply from mid-December, with awards up to US$20 million per project slated for mid-2026. 

A new roadmap dubbed “Baku to Belém Roadmap to US$1.3T” was issued by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), outlining how to mobilise roughly US$1.3 trillion in climate finance by 2035, with the private sector expected to cover about half. 

On the philanthropic front, more than 35 major philanthropic organisations announced a combined US$300 million commitment to accelerate innovation in climate-health, adaptation and resilience. 

Climate finance, especially for adaptation and loss/damage, remains a critical lever for developing nations. These moves signal progress, but the scale and speed remain far behind what many deem necessary.

Reports and Mitigation Progress

The International Energy Agency’s 2025 World Energy Outlook highlights that renewables built between now and 2030 will exceed what was built in the previous 40 years. Oil and coal are projected to peak by 2030. 

An analysis by Carbon Brief indicates that China’s CO₂ emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months, and solar and wind growth in Q3 has been strong. 

On Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), 86 new national climate plans were submitted by 113 countries ahead of COP30 and suggest emissions could be ~12 % lower in 2035 than in 2019. But, despite these signals, greenhouse gas concentrations of CO₂, methane and nitrous oxide all reached record levels in 2024, and current pledges still point towards ~2.6 °C warming. 

There are positive signs of transition and ambition, but the gap between current action and what’s required remains wide.

Forests, Land Rights and Carbon Markets

The Brazilian COP30 President unveiled the flagship Tropical Forest Forever Fund, with an aim to pay for forest conservation. While 53 countries endorsed it, the initial target of US$25 billion has been scaled back with pledges so far amount to US$5.5 billion. 

A dozen countries pledged recognition of land rights across 80 million hectares inhabited by indigenous and Afro-descendant communities by 2030. 

On carbon markets, Brazil launched a coalition to harmonise standards, with the EU, China, UK, Canada and others joining. Integration of carbon markets is seen as one of COP30’s potential legacies. 

Forest conservation and land rights are essential for climate mitigation, biodiversity, and justice. Carbon markets offer economic pathways, but success depends on strong governance and equity.

Climate Disinformation

A major development is the launch of the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate. Countries, UN agencies and civil society are committed to tackling misinformation undermining climate action. 

It’s the first time that states have formally committed to rooting out climate misinformation. The Declaration calls on governments to ensure access to accurate data, protect journalists and scientists, and adopt responsible private-sector practices.

Beyond technology and policy, the narrative and integrity of information matter and misinformation can delay action or amplify doubt. This keeps the ‘information war’ front and centre.

Final Thoughts 

Week 1 of COP30 in Belém offered a mix of promise and friction. On one hand, tangible progress with large numbers of participants, new funds and frameworks, and emerging trajectories in renewables and planning. On the other hand, the systemic issues persist: under-representation; corporate lobbying; and a mismatch between ambition and action.

As the summit advances, all eyes will be on whether the talks become commitments, and commitments become action. The location in the Amazon, the inclusion of indigenous leadership and the urgency of forests – and now misinformation – mean COP30 is not just another conference. The challenge remains: can it live up to its setting?

Explore more COP30 updates from RMetS