2025-11-07
This article is one of many Climate Explainers produced by The Greens WA Climate Crisis Working Group (CCWG). It outlines what The UN Climate Change Conferences (COPs) set out to do, their common themes and the important focus of this COP 30 on forests (as it is hosted by Brazil).
By Eddie Marynowicz and Laraine Newton for The Greens WA Climate Crisis Working Group
COP 30 is the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (the “Conference of Parties” to the Paris Agreement). It brings together world leaders, negotiators, scientists, NGOs, businesses and indigenous representatives from nearly 200 countries to assess progress on global climate goals and to negotiate the next steps for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
This year’s meeting will be held from November 6th to the 21st, 2025 in Belem in the NE state of Para in Brazil, with the two-day Leaders Summit beginning the conference.
What to expect from the event
The overall objective of the COP is increasing global cooperation to fight climate change – the specific topics can vary each year.
The overall purpose of COP is
- To review the implementation of the Paris Agreement and assess whether the world is on track to limit global warming to below 2C and pursue 1.5C.
- Accelerate ambition ‒ negotiate stronger mitigation commitments, especially from major emitters and discuss the mechanisms for carbon markets and finance.
- Adaptation & loss and damage ‒ advance funding and support for vulnerable communities coping with climate impacts and continue work on the loss and damage fund established at COP 27.
- Finance and Technology transfer ‒ mobilize public and private climate finance, promote clean energy technologies, and address barriers for developing nations.
Common themes that run through the COPs are
● reducing greenhouse gas emissions
● adaptation to climate change
● climate finance for developing countries
● renewable energy technologies and low-carbon solutions.
● preserving forests and biodiversity
● climate justice and the social impacts of climate change.
● refining the operational framework for the Loss and Damage fund that assists countries suffering from irreversible climate harms
● Reviewing National Determined Contributions (NDCs ‒ national climate action plans by each country under the Paris Agreement) to urge countries to submit more ambitious climate pledges
Brazil’s COP 30, dubbed the Amazon COP, additionally calls for:
- Forests at the heart of climate action
As a leading tropical forest nation, highlight forests not only as carbon sinks but as essential development assets that contribute to both mitigation and resilience.
- The Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF)
A performance-based fund aiming to mobilize USD 4 billion annually to reward countries for conserving tropical forests.
Issues and Challenges facing COP 30
The influence of the fossil fuel industry (FFI) is extensive and insidious. As at previous COPs, FFI companies argue for continued use of “transition fuels” and influence the design of carbon-market rules. At COP 30, there is no reason to think this will change. Brazil, like many countries, has a state oil producer Petrobas. Analysis shows its outputs are planned to rise by 32% by 2030, creating tension and potential obstacles at the COP.
Current geopolitics continues to provide a disturbing background to the conference. The escalating horrors of the Israel/Hamas war (now in a welcome but fragile ceasefire), the Ukraine war and Putin’s intransigence in finding a solution, the turmoil in the US since Trump’s election, not least its exit from the Paris Agreement, the rise of authoritarianism and growing inequality, all give rise to concern whether the world can stay focused on the climate challenge.
Diplomacy as always will be difficult given the number of nations involved, the competing interests, and the scope of the topics to be covered. While most of the work is done before the conference, final negotiations can be demanding and fractious.
The outcome of COP 30 will shape the global trajectory towards the 2030 and 2050 climate targets. Stronger commitments and clearer financing pathways are essential to keep the 1.5C pathway viable and the conference provides a diplomatic forum for aligning national policies with those of long-term goals.
What happens after COP 30
Given the ever increasing and increasingly visible impacts of the climate crisis, it is essential that COP 30 comes up with significant agreements and ways forward that will actually make a difference. The diplomats will continue their work behind the scenes, implementing agreed changes. And then start preparing for COP 31.
Australia is hoping to host COP 31 in Adelaide. However, at the time of writing, there is an impasse, with Turkey also hoping to host. If neither party backs down, it is possible the event will default to Bonn.
Australia's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for COP 30 sets a target to reduce emissions by 62-70% below 2005 levels by 2035. Unfortunately, few climate experts consider this to be ambitious enough, particularly in the light of its continuing habit of approving new fossil fuel developments, most notoriously the recent extension to 2070 of Woodside’s North West Shelf processing facilities.
It is hypocritical of Australia to say it wants to use COP 31 to highlight urgent climate threats faced by Pacific nations while at the same time approving new and expanded fossil fuel projects. It is telling that Anthony Albanese will not attend COP 30, and Australia’s representation will be led by Josh Wilson (who?), the Assistant Minister for Climate Change. At the very least, to be seen as genuine, Australia must announce it will stop approving new fossil fuel projects. Otherwise, it will be no more than greenwashing on the world stage.
Header photo: COP 30 focussing on forests. Japan Times
[Opinions expressed are those of the author and not official policy of Greens WA]