At COP28 in Dubai, global civil society achieved a historic milestone by securing a decision to transition away from fossil fuels, marking the first time in nearly three decades of UNFCCC negotiations that tackling the root cause of climate change was explicitly recognized. Despite some erosion of this global consensus since then, the decision still stands.
At COP30 in Belem, civil society again secured a significant victory through the establishment of the Belem Action Mechanism (BAM!) for a just transition. This mechanism aims to ensure that workers and communities are central to climate plans, promoting inclusion, participation, and rights. Notably, the COP30 outcome recognized the right to a healthy environment, the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and, for the first time, people of African descent. Despite this, the outcome received limited public attention compared to other COP issues.
COP30 faced structural challenges stemming from the previous COP29, which had failed to deliver on climate finance. High-income countries, including the UK, arrived in Belem without substantial financial commitments, highlighting the ongoing inadequacy of global climate finance for developing countries. Cuts in Official Development Assistance and limited progress on the new global climate finance goals left developing countries without the necessary resources to implement adaptation and climate action effectively.
A late-stage focus on a fossil fuel roadmap, promoted by President Lula and pursued by developed countries, shifted the negotiations away from the priorities of developing nations, including adaptation, finance, nature, and worker protections. This shift reinforced the Global North/Global South divide, with developed countries emphasizing mitigation while undermining the substantive needs of developing countries. Media attention and public narratives largely centered on fossil fuels, overshadowing the broader justice and finance issues that were critical for vulnerable nations.
Despite the weak overall outcomes, civil society, workers, and Indigenous Peoples emerged as the clear heroes of COP30. Civil society’s persistent advocacy secured the BAM and historic recognition of rights. Workers demanded a just transition and actively contributed to safety efforts during the COP. Indigenous Peoples continued to fight for visibility and inclusion despite facing systemic marginalization and heightened security measures. Their contributions and resilience remain the defining legacy of COP30, even amid political and financial shortcomings.
