Where are we going?

Halfway at COP 30 in Belém most issues are still open.

Moreover, several important topics are not on the official agenda. One of these topics is the transition away from fossil fuels. At COP 28 in Dubai, it was agreed that such a transition must take place. However, no agreements have been made on how and when. Various initiatives and ideas are circulating in Belém, which are receiving support from a growing number of countries. Agreement on further steps may still be reached. 

Another important issue is climate finance. Last year, at COP 29 in Baku, the new target of $300 billion by 2035 was set, even though it was already clear that this would be far too little. Therefore, a mandate was given to determine whether contributions could be increased to $1.3 trillion by 2035, the so-called Baku to Belém Roadmap (B2B). At COP 30, a debate is going on about whether B2B should be an agenda item for future COPs. Whether anything concrete will emerge from this discussion remains to be seen. 

Climate finance also plays a significant role in other agenda items. This year, the Global Goal on Adaptation is supposed to be finalized. This includes a list of indicators to determine the climate resilience of the various countries. However, the African Group of countries has so far blocked the adoption of these indicators, arguing that it is pointless as long as there is insufficient funding to actually use them and finance adaptation projects. Financing adaptation is a hot topic. There is a strong call to triple contributions to the Adaptation Fund to at least $120 billion by 2030. And this must come from public funds. Private investment in adaptation projects is extremely scarce, especially in developing countries. 

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It is clear that wealthy countries face the challenge of generating significant amounts of public funding. This is especially difficult in an era of polarization in many of these countries, coupled with high military expenditures leading to budget deficits. Therefore, opportunities are being sought to leverage as much private funding as possible. But for recipient countries, it is vital that they are not confronted with an even greater debt burden than they already have. Debt relief, debt swaps (to finance climate projects), and reform of the international financial architecture are crucial.

Amid all this, much more is happening. Host country Brazil launched the first global action plan on health and climate. And a major initiative to combat disinformation was presented, the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change (see https://www.unesco.org/en/information-integrity-climate-change). Several countries have expressed their support for this initiative. 

The World Council of Churches and other religious organizations are (co-)organizing numerous side events and press conferences, including on the ethical challenges of the climate crisis and the initiative for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Such a treaty would be well-suited to the energy transition away from fossil fuels. 

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Parallel to the COP, the Peoples Summit is organizing many events. Last Saturday, a massive climate march was held, with some 30,000 participants, including many religious groups and organizations. Part of this march was a "fossil fuel funeral," with three coffins for coal, oil, and gas, respectively. Indigenous groups were also prominently present, demanding that their voices be heard both within and outside the COP. 

The ecumenical service in Belém last Sunday highlighted some of the sensitive issues of the COP, and named the ongoing destruction of the Amazon and the increasing oppression and murder of people fighting to preserve it. 

We still have a long way to go.

Marijke Van Duin, from the Netherlands is a COP 30 observer for the World Council of Churches (WCC). The (PC(USA)) is a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and is actively involved in its work and decision-making bodies. Read more from Marijke about COP 30.