The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), held from November 10–21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil, is a crucial opportunity to reassess the effectiveness of the Paris Agreement’s implementation amid the growing risks of global warming and the weakening of multilateralism. The meeting will be held in the Amazon region, which plays a strategic role in international climate stability. Brazil’s Leadership in this year’s COP emphasizes the urgency of protecting tropical forests and strengthening mitigation, adaptation, and financial support for developing countries. Because the technical rules for implementing the Paris Agreement have been established at previous conferences, COP30 will focus on closing the gap between ambition and action across these three key pillars.
Six Key Issues in COP30
The COP30 conference raised six key issues requiring swift decisions and strong commitment from participating countries. The first issue concerns efforts to prevent increasingly uncontrolled global warming. A UNEP report shows that current climate commitments by countries are far from sufficient, and the world is on track for 2.3–2.5°C of warming by the end of the Century. The 1.5°C threshold is highly likely to be exceeded within the next decade, so the primary focus of COP30 will be to minimize the extent and duration of this overshoot. Countries will be under pressure to strengthen mitigation actions, particularly in the largest emitting sectors such as energy, industry, and transportation.
The second issue concerns protecting communities from the impacts of the climate crisis. Countries are discussing ways to strengthen resilience against heatwaves, floods, droughts, and sea-level rise. Adaptation funding needs are estimated to exceed US$310 billion annually by 2035, yet available funding remains severely limited. COP30 is a crucial forum for establishing new, credible adaptation funding targets and agreeing on indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation, given that the Glasgow adaptation commitments expire this year.
The third issue highlights the fulfillment of large-scale climate finance promises. Brazil and Azerbaijan have proposed a roadmap to mobilize US$1.3 trillion annually for developing countries by 2035. However, the key to success lies in strategically using public funds to attract large-scale private capital, including through multilateral development bank reform, debt resolution, and innovative financing instruments that can deliver real investment, not just promises.
The fourth issue discusses the use of creative solutions to address the climate crisis. COP30 showcased a variety of new initiatives, such as the Beat the Heat Implementation Drive, which promotes sustainable cooling technologies; Brazil’s low-carbon regional development initiative; and the launch of the Food Waste Breakthrough, which targets a 50 percent reduction in global food waste. Furthermore, the Tropical Forest Forever Facility offers a transformative approach to providing financial incentives for countries that maintain tropical forests.
The fifth issue relates to the just transition to a low-carbon economy. Renewable energy is now the cheapest source of electricity globally, but there are still risks of social inequality during the transition. COP30 is expected to produce a decision on the Belém Action Mechanism for Just Transition, which provides a clear framework for governments and the private sector to ensure worker protection, new job creation, and support for communities and regions that have historically relied on carbon-based industries.
The sixth issue emphasizes the need to revive the collective spirit of the Paris Agreement. Without it, the world is projected to warm by 3–3.5°C. However, the latest predictions, in the range of 2.3–2.5°C, remain dangerous. Therefore, COP30 is seen as the beginning of a ” decade of delivery, ” demanding the courage to translate commitments into concrete action.
Multi-Sector Dynamics in Global Climate Policy Architecture
Cross-sectoral discussions at COP30 demonstrated that climate policy now encompasses a broader scope. In the energy sector, primary attention is being paid to accelerating the development of renewable energy, green hydrogen production, and energy storage technologies to reduce global dependence on fossil fuels. At the same time, the maritime and air transportation sectors, regulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), are being monitored more closely to ensure that their decarbonization pathways remain consistent with global targets. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR ) technologies, such as direct air capture and carbon mineralization, are also gaining traction as part of a long-term strategy.
Climate finance remains at the center of debate
Following the adoption of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) in 2024, the primary focus in Belém was on completing the Baku to Belém Roadmap to US$1.3 trillion. However, the interim target of US$300 billion per year until 2035 drew criticism as inadequate to meet the real needs of vulnerable countries, particularly in adaptation funding, which often lags behind mitigation. The absence of a financial commitment from the United States further narrowed the global funding space and made other countries increasingly doubt the stability of international cooperation.
Amid stagnant public funding, Brazil is attempting to promote new approaches through non-traditional financing schemes. These efforts include redirecting subsidies away from high-emitting sectors, using blended financing instruments to attract private capital, and offering low-risk investment schemes to attract investors to climate projects. One interesting innovation is the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF), a mechanism that provides long-term incentives to countries that protect and restore tropical forests. This approach seeks to more concretely place the ecological value of forests in the global funding system, so that forest protection is no longer viewed as a burden but as an asset worthy of sustainable support.
Indonesia’s leadership in COP30
At the COP30 forum in Belém, Indonesia emphasized the importance of completing the Global Stocktake (GST) as a basis for evaluating the world’s collective performance in reducing emissions. Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq highlighted that nearly a decade after the Paris Agreement, the gap between ambition and action remains wide. Therefore, Indonesia emphasized the need for complete transparency in GST results so that all countries understand their respective positions, the level of contribution achieved, and the corrective measures that must be taken together. In addition to promoting GST transparency, Indonesia also underscored the importance of the energy transition as a concrete step to closing the emissions gap. In a ministerial session, Indonesia emphasized that large-scale renewable energy development is one of the most effective ways to accelerate emissions reductions. However, the high cost of energy transformation remains a significant obstacle for many developing countries. Therefore, Indonesia called for greater affordable access to technology and adequate financial support. This position demonstrates Indonesia’s desire to ensure that the energy transition is not solely the responsibility of developed countries, but a collective process that an inclusive international funding mechanism must support.
Indonesia’s commitment to climate action was also reflected in the launch of the Blue Carbon Ecosystem Roadmap and Action Guide at COP30. This document provides strategic direction for protecting and restoring mangroves, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes as critical climate assets capable of absorbing significant amounts of carbon. This launch coincided with Indonesia’s increased ambition outlined in its Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC), which, for the first time, explicitly included the marine and fisheries sector in the mitigation and adaptation agenda. By emphasizing a cross-ecosystem approach and linking science, policy, and financing, Indonesia demonstrated regional Leadership in integrating ocean-based solutions into national climate policies.
Author : Nazwa
Reference :
Kementerian Kehutaan Republik Indonesia. “Indonesia Resmi Tutup Paviliun Di COP30: Perkuat Aksi Nyata Menuju Net Zero Melalui Karbon Berintegritas Tinggi.” Kehutanan.go.id, November 22, 2025. https://www.kehutanan.go.id/news/indonesia-resmi-tutup-paviliun-di-cop-30-perkuat-aksi-nyata-menuju-net-zero-melalui-karbon-berintegritas-tinggi.
UN Climate Change. “Global Climate Action Agenda at COP 30 OUTCOMES REPORT,” November 21, 2025. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/COP30%20Action%20Agenda_Final%20Report.docx.pdf.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “Six Issues That Will Dominate COP30.” UNEP, November 7, 2025. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/six-issues-will-dominate-cop30.
