COP30 in Belém: Hopes, Criticisms, and Calls for Climate Action
COP30 took place in Belém, Brazil, at the mouth of the Amazon, drawing thousands of participants including Munduruku indigenous protesters at its entrance. The summit was expected to be a turning point in global climate action, yet concerns grew that it might become a process-driven spectacle, marked by limited urgency and little substantial progress. Past summits have faced criticism for what some describe as a betrayal of less-developed countries.
The COP's consensus-based framework under the UNFCCC was designed to foster inclusive participation. However, in practice, wealthier nations wield more influence, and hosting such events is a significant challenge for poorer countries. Developing nations encounter barriers to engagement due to the complexity and scale of the negotiation process, while large Western delegations benefit from abundant resources allowing extensive strategic planning.
Fossil-fuel lobbying remains extensive and pervasive, with COP28 reportedly hosting nearly 2,500 fossil-fuel lobbyists. This has led to descriptions of the summit resembling a business fair, which detracts from urgent climate action. Despite these challenges and criticisms, the COP process has achieved important milestones such as confirming the 1.5°C global warming limit, establishing the loss and damage fund, and agreeing to climate finance pledges amounting to $100 billion annually. Nonetheless, the delivery of these commitments continues to be slow and unequal.
Underlying these issues are the entrenched power dynamics and the broader political economy of global affairs. For example, Bolivia's experience highlights how powerful decisions can override the will of developing countries. Observers at COP30 urged a vital shift from negotiation to implementation, emphasizing the urgency as global emissions persist, carbon sinks weaken, and the likelihood of surpassing the 1.5°C threshold grows.
