COP 30: What Can We Expect?
- Summer Elsie
- 7 hours ago
- 6 min read
What are we expecting from COP 30, and who will be accountable? This article aims to discuss the topics in which we can predict to occur within the meeting, ranging from the past effects of the climate crisis and our upcoming solutions, based on the past records.
Berlin's cathedral under blue light. Image Credit: Corinna Lichtenberg on Pixabay
COP (the conference of parties), is a meeting of global leaders, ran but the United Nations (UN) that regulates supreme decision making when it comes to the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity at a global scale, alongside administrative and institutional arrangements. It’s a yearly meeting that has occurred since 1995, starting in Berlin, Germany (COP1).
As COP30 rapidly approaches Brazil this year (2025) our global leaders may collapse under the weight of the myriad of topics that need to be addressed promptly due to the rapid changes within the climate crisis; Brazil being the stationed area for COP30 is vital as it has been hit hardest due to the increasing destruction of the amazon rainforest, losing 13% of its vegetation within the past 4 decades, which is equal to the size of Spain.
COP 30 is vital in these times, and its timing this year couldn’t be any better to discuss these loses at a global scale.
So… what can we expect this time?
Climate Finance
This years agenda at the COP will cover five key areas, one of them focusing solely on climate finances, the money they’re willing to spend on the environment, and targets that are set for them to meet. This should cover the topic of the $300 billion pledge made at COP29. This agreement sparked mass outrage, as the general populus expected it to be a greater sum. Leading to complaints that this was simply, just not enough, that these wealthy individuals waited until the last minute to agree.
Due to political views, constantly differing by a substantial amount, The president of the United states (US), President Donald trump, a very known ‘climate sceptic’ retaliated stating that this is the best sum we will get, despite not attending COP29, stating that it was greater than he wanted either way. We are uncertain on whether he will even attend this years meeting as he has not yet announced his attendance.
This fight over finances, reestablished the divisions between the wealthy and the poor, which negates the effects of uniting over the control of the climate crisis, it is without a doubt this topic will be broadly covered this year.
Scales weighing the Earth and money. Image Credit: Corinna Lichtenberg on Pixabay
The Fossil Fuel Transition
This years meeting is heavily predicted to be focused around the transition from the use of fossil fuels to more sustainable methods at a global scale, due to the significant increase in carbon and methane levels within the past decade; Carbon increasing by 50% due to the lack of carbon sequencing in the ocean (with the loss of coral) and methane increasing by 11.1 parts per million in 2024, due to the demand in beef and overconsumption of red meats.
During the past event at COP28 and COP29 this topic has been covered in increasing urgency due to these rapid increases in gases, despite the general publics efforts to lower the rates; this now points the finger at those in charge to make a change. At COP28 this topic was referenced heavily under ‘It’s the beginning of the end’ in December - it seems as if noting has actually begun.
This was followed up last year at COP29, to establish a fully funded transition goal to sustainable methods, this was implemented across the UK (The United kingdom), to aim to ban all fossil fuel uses by 2035.
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The Renewable Energy Expansion
The expansion and focus on renewable energy is a major topic covered across the last 5 years of COP, specifically within COP28 - there is no denying it will also be discussed this year. The transition to renewable energy, in COP28 was stated to allow the tripling of renewable energy and power by 2030. The aims to reach this goal were outlined by the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), to implement carbon budgets, employ a greater use of wind farms and solar power farms.
This target has been marked as achievable but significantly challenging, due to the expenses of technology, the land needed, and the jobs that will be cut from the fossil fuel industry- as seen by the past decline in jobs and increases in poverty in the race for sustainability, a prime example being the loss of the steelworks in Corby, Northamptonshire, sending it into decline after Margarat thatcher’s policy in 1979.
Despite being beneficially environmentally, socio-economic factors must be taken into account, 10,000 were made redundant, increasing unemployment locally to 30%, leading to Corbys decline, which is still apparent today. This topic will be vital and challenging to discuss this year, due to mixed opinions both by the general public and politicians.
A power plant releasing smoke and gases. Image Credit: Steve Buissinne on Pixabay
Nature and Forest Protection
One of the main benefits of COP30 being hosted within Brazil, the home of the amazon rainforest; a major fatality due to the raise in carbon emissions, agriculture the industrialization - which area would be best to hold it, other than the base of the damage?
You’d think COP30 would be discussing the launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility… Yet they have refused to discuss this at the current time, well, at least Keir Starmer has released his statement on it, we are unsure on whether any other global leaders will be investing in it at the current time. Despite considering the funding at the time, the UK decided against it due to ‘budget reasons’ stated a couple days ago (November 2025). So, despite Keir Starmer supporting the scheme, he will not be supporting it financially at this time, but this isn’t to say that other leaders will also follow in his footsteps.
The Amazon rainforest is vital if we want to fight the climate crisis, it doesn’t store as much carbon as the ocean, but it is still such a significant factor in our environment, holding over 17% of the global carbon stock via vegetation and hosting the habitats of over 3 million species. This will be discussed at COP30 - but not as urgently as needed.
The Updated National Commitments
A more recent topic when it comes to COP, discussing the world leaders national commitments, this will focus on ensuring that nations submit ambitious new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) aligned with the 1.5°C pathway. This is the focus on the Paris Agreement and the reduction emissions, reassessing this legally binding agreement on climate change, in an attempt to slow down and stop the influx of carbon release. This landmark of an agreement states to limit global warming to just 1.5°C and focuses on socio-political action for the environment running at a five year cycle of change when it comes to our environment.
This is guaranteed to reappear at COP30 as a major focus point, to allow world leaders to discuss their inputs and their successes with employing the Paris agreements aims into their countries, due to the wealthier allowing those below to finance their ecological improvements in order to follow this agreement, they will discuss budgets and successes, alongside any barriers they may face. We are aware that President Donald Trump will not be contributing to this discussion due to his withdrawal from the agreement.
People signing an agreement in a meeting. Image Credit: aymane jdidi on Pixabay
To Conclude
COP30 is rapidly approaching, and these 5 topics should be guaranteed in the discussion due to their history within past session, alongside the given urgency of their impacts on everyone worldwide. The talk of budgets, climate control, emissions and change are vital in these times. Change is vital. COP30 is the perfect event for these word leaders to hold each other accountable for any increase in global warming.
