INTRODUCTION
The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) was held in Belém, the capital of Pará State in Brazil, from 10–22 November 2025. The Conference brought together over 57 Heads of State and Government and an estimated 56,118 participants from across the world. COP30 carried particular significance as it followed COP29, where parties adopted the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance, necessitating further negotiations on how financing would support implementation across various thematic areas. Since the adoption of the Rio Conventions in 1992—particularly the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)—parties have met annually since 1995 to negotiate progress on adaptation, mitigation, finance, carbon markets, and other related agenda items. These annual convenings are intended to assess collective advancement toward achieving net-zero emissions and stabilizing global temperature rise at 1.5°C.
FIMCAP PARTICIPATION
Over the past five years, including this current year, FIMCAP has actively participated in the COP conferences to ensure that the concerns and aspirations of young people are reflected in the final decision texts. Since COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, FIMCAP has operated at an intercontinental level, presenting delegates from the various continents where the organization is represented, with the exception of Latin America due to language limitations. For COP30, I was appointed as Head of Delegation, entrusted with the responsibility of securing support from Fastenaktion through the submission of new project and budget proposals. Additionally, I was tasked with ensuring the effective execution of the project, which included selecting new delegates and preparing them adequately to engage meaningfully in the conference.
PREPARATION
From January to July, preparations were undertaken to select new delegates for the FIMCAP COP project. Candidates who expressed interest were given the opportunity to participate virtually in the Intersessionals in Bonn. On 22nd July, an intercontinental delegation was selected from across the regions where FIMCAP operates, with the exception of Latin America due to language constraints. The selected delegates were Ms. Prisca Esi Kuworde from CYO Ghana, representing FIMCAP Africa; Mr. Ernne John Dolor from Chiro Philippines, representing FIMCAP Asia; and Ms. Amber Vanneck from Chiro Belgium, representing FIMCAP Europe. The delegates participated in a series of structured training sessions and bi-weekly preparatory meetings ahead of COP. During the General Assembly in Georgia and the FIMCAP Fabulous Five meeting in Belgium, further capacity-building activities were conducted to familiarize them with UNFCCC processes and enhance their active participation. They were introduced to the various negotiation streams and subsequently selected their areas of focus: Prisca chose Adaptation, Amber focused on Climate Finance, and Ernne John selected Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE). Former COP delegates also shared their experiences to enrich the orientation process. A consolidated position paper, combining perspectives from all the negotiation tracks, was prepared to guide the delegation’s advocacy. Flights and accommodation were fully covered by FIMCAP. The preparatory processes were jointly coordinated by myself and Fidelis Stehle from Germany.
COP30 IN BELEM
I departed from Ghana with Ms. Prisca Kuworde for Belém on 7 November 2025, arriving the following day and settling in an Airbnb in Ananindeua. Other participants arrived subsequently, and on 9 November, we proceeded to the conference venue to collect our badges, which provided access throughout COP30. From 10 to 22 November, we closely followed the different negotiation tracks and specific agenda items in Informal Consultations. We engaged in bilateral discussions with our strongest ally, the Holy See, presenting positions on adaptation, agriculture, loss and damage, and gender issues, a priority given my role on the steering committee of the Network of Catholic Climate and Environmental Actors (NCCEA). While the Holy See was less active in general negotiations, it played a strong role on gender-related matters, supporting Paraguay and other parties in advocating for the footnoting of gender as a biological construct of men and women, despite objections from other parties. As part of our work with YOUNGO, the official youth and children constituency of the UNFCCC, we facilitated bilateral meetings with the African Group of Negotiators and the European Union to understand their positions on finance and adaptation agenda items, noting the divergent stances among the blocs. We also participated in multiple side events on adaptation, coastal resilience, waste management, meaningful youth engagement, and just transition. Additionally, the NCCEA organized a Catholic Mass, concelebrated by Cardinal Pablo Virgilio Siongco David, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and Vice President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference, providing a solemn moment to reflect on our journey as Catholic actors and the outlook for the coming years.
KEY DECISIONS AT COP30
1. New 2-Year Climate Finance Work Programme A political decision (Mutirão) created a 2-year finance programme to push countries toward delivering the Baku–Belém Roadmap, including efforts to reach USD 1.3 trillion per year by 2035, with pressure on developed countries to supply the promised public finance.
2. Adaptation Finance Tripled but Delayed to 2035 Countries agreed to triple adaptation finance, but the target year was pushed to 2035 without a clear baseline. This delays urgently needed funding for vulnerable countries facing worsening climate impacts.
3. Weak Adoption of 59 Adaptation Indicators A set of 59 out of 100 indicators for tracking global adaptation progress was adopted, but last-minute changes weakened their credibility and usability. Countries still lack clarity on how to report adaptation progress effectively. Further discussions will follow at the SBs
4. No Fossil Fuel Roadmap Despite Support Although 88 countries pushed for a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels, the final decision excluded it. Instead, softer follow-up initiatives were launched, meaning fossil fuel transition planning remains unclear and unanchored.
5. Just Transition Mechanism Established A new mechanism was created to support countries with:
➔ technical assistance
➔ capacity building
➔ knowledge sharing This makes just transition efforts more practical and is considered one of COP30's strongest implementation-focused results.
FALLOUTS COP30
These political fallouts set the stage for COP31 in Turkiye
1. No fossil fuel transition roadmap was adopted, despite support from 88 countries, weakening ambition to phase out fossil fuels and subsidies. Brazil wants to keep the momentum going and promised to deliver roadmaps for deforestation and a just transition away from fossil fuels in the coming year.
2. Adaptation finance delivery was delayed to 2035, slowing urgent support needed by vulnerable developing countries. 3. Weak and last-minute adaptation indicators were adopted, compromising credibility and offering little guidance for national reporting.
4. Climate finance remains uncertain, with no clear pathway to deliver the USD 300 billion public finance target promised in Baku.
5. Trade tensions escalated over unilateral measures such as border carbon adjustments, with no resolution reached.
6. Accommodation shortages and extreme price hikes limited participation, especially for small delegations, civil society, and developing countries.
7. Weak travel connectivity and infrastructure constraints strained logistics, creating accessibility barriers and organisational challenges.
8. Reduced attendance from vulnerable groups weakened inclusiveness, undermining representation from Indigenous groups, small-island states, and low-income nations.
9. Fire outbreak on the 21st forcing negotiations to end on 22nd November.
LESSONS LEARNED AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Enhance Pre-COP Training and Mentorship: Continue bi-weekly training sessions and mentorship by experienced delegates, focusing on negotiation techniques, UNFCCC rules, and advocacy strategies.
2. Develop Clear Advocacy Priorities: Identify core thematic areas (e.g., adaptation finance, gender, ACE) and prepare targeted messaging for negotiations and bilateral meetings. Delegates should continue to follow different negotiation streams to build their capacities in those areas.
3. Build Strategic Partnerships: Foster alliances with key negotiating blocs, faith-based actors, and youth networks in the space to increase visibility and influence.
4. Improve Logistics Planning: Secure accommodations, travel, and on-ground support well in advance to avoid last-minute constraints that limit participation and engagement.
5. Document and Share Experiences: Maintain detailed reports, lessons learned, and position papers to inform future delegates and guide organizational strategy for subsequent COPs.
NEXT STEPS
COP31 will be held in Türkiye with Australia leading the negotiations. COP32 will be in Ethiopia. Looking at these arrangements, there is the need to start engagements as soon as possible and start looking for new delegates and participants at Bonn
