The Brazilian presidency of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) has called on governments, multilateral development banks and the global private sector to walk their talk and accelerate financial flows to support developing countries in their climate action efforts.
COP30 will take place in Belém, in Brazil’s Amazon region, this November.
In a letter, the COP30 president-designate specifically referenced the $1.3-trillion climate finance goal set at the previous COP, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, last November.
At COP29, developed nations committed to providing $300-billion annually for developing countries by 2035 — far short of the $1.3-trillion that developing nations, including SA, had pushed for.
However, COP29 also introduced the Baku to Belém Roadmap — an initiative aimed at scaling global climate finance to $1.3-trillion annually by 2035 through innovative funding mechanisms. At the time, the details of these mechanisms remained unclear.
“If global warming is left unchecked, change will be imposed on us as it disrupts our societies, economies and families. If instead we choose to organise ourselves in collective action, we have the possibility of rewriting a different future,” the letter warns.
In its letter, the Brazilian presidency outlined its vision for COP30, emphasising the need to move “beyond negotiating talks” and into a new era of implementation.
The letter urges world leaders to execute promises: “Words and text must be translated into actual practice and transformations on the ground. The credibility and strength of the regime hinge upon it. COP30 must mark the moment we transition to the UNFCCC ‘post-negotiation’ phase,” the letter states.
Brazil seeks to reshape the global climate governance approach, advocating for increased leadership from the Global South.
Moving away from a “North Star” model of leadership dominated by developed nations, the letter proposes a shift towards a “Southern Cross” framework, ensuring the voices of historically marginalised nations like Africa and SA in the climate debate are amplified.
Brazil’s COP30 vision also reinforces the importance of advancing the Global Stocktake — the mechanism under the Paris Agreement that assesses collective progress towards climate goals.
This includes delivering on the targets set at COP28, such as tripling renewable energy capacity, doubling energy efficiency, and transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Acknowledging the critical role of natural ecosystems, the Brazilian presidency places strong emphasis on forest protection and restoration.
“Forests can buy us time in climate action in our rapidly closing window of opportunity,” the letter states, underscoring the Amazon’s significance in global climate stability.
COP30 marks significant milestones: 20 years since the Kyoto Protocol came into force and 10 years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, of which SA is also a signatory.
If global warming is left unchecked, change will be imposed on us as it disrupts our societies, economies and families.
— COP30's Brazilian presidency
COP30 also comes at a time of geopolitical shifts in climate finance.
The US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under President Donald Trump has major implications for global climate funding, particularly for developing nations.
Business Day previously reported SA’s JET project management unit, located in the presidency, will lose $1bn of funds pledged for just energy transition projects.
“The withdrawal of the US from the JETP reduces the current overall international JET pledges to SA from $13.8bn to $12.8bn, largely in respect of commercial investment potential,” the unit said in a statement.
Despite contributing only 3.9% of global CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and industry, Africa faces some of the most severe climate impacts, including worsening droughts, floods and extreme heat.
These challenges are worsened by a lack of funds for mitigation and adaptation, leaving many nations unable to build climate-resilient infrastructure or respond effectively to disasters.
This disparity underscores the urgent need for climate justice, compelling wealthier nations to fulfil their climate finance commitments and support Africa’s adaptation efforts.
Fred Njehu, Pan African Political Strategist at Greenpeace Africa, said: “For the African continent, 2025 will be a defining moment moving into COP30. It will not only build on the momentum from the previous climate negotiations, it will also be a game changer in addressing the climate crisis, but most importantly deliver on the unfulfilled promises.
“We recognise that climate multilateralism has faced unprecedented challenges over the years, while the climate crisis continues to cause havoc, ravage communities and destroy livelihoods.
“COP30 in Belem, Brazil, must move beyond the usual rhetoric and deliver substantial climate commitments that have lagged behind over the past years.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.