- Climate misinformation: Commitment to promoting information integrity and countering false narratives.
The final decision emphasizes solidarity and investment, setting ambitious financial targets while leaving the energy transition for later discussion. Burning fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases that are by far the biggest contributors to global warming, making the omission a concern for many countries, including negotiators from South America and the EU, as well as civil society groups.
It was widely expected that the final COP30 decision would explicitly refer to the phasing out of fossil fuels. More than 80 countries supported Brazil’s proposal for a formal “road map.”
A draft text had included it – until the last hours of the negotiations. The adopted outcome only refers to the “UAE Consensus”, with the COP28 decision calling for “abandon fossil fuels.”
Before the final plenary session, Brazilian scientist Carlos Nobre issued a stark warning: fossil fuel use must fall to zero by 2040 – 2045 at the latest to avoid a catastrophic rise in temperatures of up to 2.5°C by mid-century. This trajectory, he said, would lead to the near-total loss of coral reefs, the collapse of the Amazon rainforest and accelerated melting of the Greenland ice sheet.
A closer look
After two weeks of intense negotiations, the adopted text calls for mobilizing at least $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 for climate action, alongside tripling adaptation funding and operationalizing the loss and damage fund agreed at COP28.
It is also launching two major initiatives – the Global Implementation Accelerator and the Belém Mission to 1.5°C – to help countries meet their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), or national climate action plansand adaptation plans.
For the first time, the decision recognizes the need to tackle climate misinformationcommitting to promoting information integrity and countering narratives that undermine science-based action.
Last week, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva opened the summit by declaring it would be known as “the COP of truth”, and this historic decision marks an important step toward safeguarding public trust in climate policy – even if the absence of language on the transition away from fossil fuels highlights the complexity of energy negotiations.
Two new roadmaps
At the closing meeting, COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago acknowledged what had been left out of the agreement:
“We know that some of you had greater ambitions on some of the issues at stake,” he said, adding: “I know that youth civil society will ask us to do more to combat climate change. I want to reiterate that I will try not to disappoint you during my presidency.”
Reflecting on President Lula’s call for ambition at COP30, Mr. do Lago announced his intention to create two roadmaps: one to stop and reverse deforestation; and another to transition away from fossil fuels in a fair, orderly and equitable manner, mobilizing resources for these purposes in a “fair and planned” manner.
COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago (center) speaks with his team at the close of the UN Climate Conference.
The path to consensus
The path to consensus at the last Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as the annual COPs are officially called, went anything but smoothly.
Late last week, indigenous groups organized blockages demanding stronger protections for the Amazon, and on Thursday afternoon, a fire at the conference venue disrupted the talks during a critical phase.
Negotiators worked through Friday night to close gaps in funding and ambition, with the Brazilian presidency steering discussions toward a politically achievable outcome focused on supporting and implementing agreements from previous COPs.
“Multilateralism is alive”
From the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, UN Secretary-General António Guterres sent a clear message to COP30: at the gates of the Amazon, the Parties reached an agreement which shows nations can still come together to meet challenges no country can solve this problem alone.
The UN chief said COP30 delivered progress, such as the launch of the Global Implementation Accelerator to close ambition gaps, and reaffirmed the UAE consensus, including a just, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.
“But COPs are built on consensus – and in a time of geopolitical divisions, consensus is increasingly difficult to achieve. I cannot pretend that COP30 delivered everything that was needed.” Exceeding 1.5°C is a stark warning: deep and rapid emissions reductions and massive climate finance are essential. “COP30 is over, but the work is not,” he said.
Mr. Guterres pledged to continue pushing for greater ambition and solidarity, urging all those who marched, negotiated and mobilized: “Don’t give up. History – and the United Nations – are on your side.
Maintaining the line at 1.5 in “turbulent geopolitical waters”
UN climate chief Simon Stiell highlighted a series of major gains as COP30 closes in Belém: new strategies to accelerate Paris Agreement implementation, a desire to triple funding for adaptation and commitments to a just energy transition.
And despite what he called “turbulent geopolitical waters” – marked by polarization and climate denial – 194 nations united, “keeping humanity in the fight for a livable planet, determined to hold the line at 1.5°C”.
At the heart of this momentum is the flagship outcome of COP30: Text Mutirãoa wide-ranging agreement that consolidates four controversial negotiating tracks – from mitigation to financial and trade barriers – into a single consensus-based agreement. Seventeen additional decisions were adopted in parallel.
The outcome document declares that the global transition to low-emission, climate-resilient development is “irreversible and the trend of the future.” It reaffirms that the Paris Agreement is working – and must “go further and faster” – by strengthening the role of multilateral climate cooperation.
The text also recognizes the economic and social benefits of climate action, from growth and job creation to improved energy access, security and public health. Mr Stiell highlighted a decisive trend: investments in renewable energy now exceed those in fossil fuels by more than twice – “a political and commercial signal that cannot be ignored”, he said.
A solid action agenda beyond negotiations
The Brazilian presidency stressed that the success of COP30 extends beyond negotiated agreements, highlighting a wave of voluntary commitments under the Program of Action.
Among them:
- Rainforest Fund Forever: Raised $5.5 billion and now includes 53 participating countries; at least 20 percent of resources go directly to indigenous peoples and local communities.
- Belém Health Action Plan: The first global initiative targeting climate-related health threatslaunched with $300 million from 35 philanthropic organizations.
- UNEZA Alliance: Utility companies have pledged $66 billion a year for renewable energy and $82 billion for transmission and storage.
- Cities, regions and businesses: A coalition covering 25,000 buildings said it had reduced more than 850,000 tonnes of CO₂ in 2024.
Climate justice at the forefront
Countries also agreed to develop a just transition mechanism, strengthening cooperation, technical support and capacity building.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
