COP30 president André Corrêa do Lago has outlined some of the key objectives expected to be part of the COP30 negotiations in Brazil this year in his first communication in the role.
By “accepting reality and combating catastrophe, cynicism and denialism”, COP30 must be “a moment of hope and possibilities through action – not of paralysis and fragmentation”, do Lago said, adding that if global warming is left unchecked, “change will be forced upon us, disrupting our societies, economies and families”.
“If we choose instead to organise in collective action, we have the chance to rewrite a different future. Change by choice gives us the chance for a future that is not dictated by tragedy, but by resilience and agency towards a vision of our own making.”
Objectives
do Lago noted that there is sufficient global capital to close the global investment gap, but recognised there are barriers to redirecting capital towards climate action. Governments, through public finance and clear signals to investors, are key to reducing these barriers, he argued.
“We need to make the best use of the multilateral financial architecture, remove barriers and address the bottlenecks that developing countries face in financing climate action, including high capital costs, limited fiscal space, unsustainable debt levels, high transaction costs and conditionalities in accessing climate finance. We need to advance climate mainstreaming into investment and finance.”
Although light on detail, do Lago also mentioned a ‘Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T’, which, he argued, should serve as “a springboard to leverage financing for low-carbon and climate-resilient pathways in developing countries”.
COP30 also looks set to emphasise the link between climate, nature and energy, with do Lago particularly referencing forests and reversing deforestation as a critical lever for immediate climate action.
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“By reversing deforestation and restoring what has been lost, we can trigger massive removals of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere while bringing ecosystems back to life. Healthier ecosystems can also provide opportunities for resilience and the bioeconomy, supporting local livelihoods, creating sophisticated value chains and generating innovations in biotechnology,” he writes.
Elsewhere, do Lago acknowledged the limitations of multilateral negotiations in getting countries to publish their Nationally-Determined Contributions (NDCs), but called for a stocktake to identify obstacles that hinder climate ambition and implementation. However, despite referencing global energy targets, do Lago fell short on calling for direct inclusion in NDCs.
A new initiative was also unveiled: the Global Ethical Stocktake is intended to gather ethical perspectives on climate action from thinkers, scientists, artists and Indigenous voices to address climate change at all levels.
Andreas Sieber, associate director of policy & campaigns at 350.org, said: “Outlining a vision for COP30 in such a detailed manner is a welcome shift after last year’s fossil fuel-captured and stagnant presidency. This early engagement signals an intention to shape the summit’s agenda rather than merely respond to it.
“The letter rightly underscores the urgency of new climate targets and the central role of Indigenous peoples at the Amazon COP. However, it falls short in setting concrete energy targets and committing to a fossil fuel phase-out.
“While it references the Global Stocktake and the landmark decision to transition away from fossil fuels and triple renewable energy, the real test lies in implementation. The COP30 presidency must now clarify how it will translate these commitments into action – especially as the world remains dangerously off track, including Brazil’s own continued fossil fuel expansion.”
