Belem , Brazil : The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP-30 (Conference of the Parties), commenced on November 10, 2025, in Belém, Brazil. The summit has drawn more than 50,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries and will continue until November 21.
The conference arrives at a critical juncture as global temperatures have set new records, and extreme weather events alongside other impacts of climate change are increasingly affecting populations worldwide.
COP, shorthand for Conference of the Parties, is the UN-led international forum where countries come together annually under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to discuss strategies to curb global warming. The summit provides a platform for nations, scientists, environmentalists, and leaders to coordinate on reducing carbon emissions, implementing the Paris Agreement, and ensuring a sustainable future.
The inaugural COP was held in 1995 in Berlin, Germany, where developed nations were urged to commit legally to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the “Berlin Mandate,” paving the way for key agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol of 1997. Today, COP summits bring together countries that signed the 1992 UN Climate Convention, adopted during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which aims to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at levels that prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.
Developed nations bear a greater responsibility due to their historical contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, making their leadership in climate action crucial. However, financial commitments between developed and developing nations remain a persistent challenge.
Climate finance has consistently been a key topic at COP summits. Developed countries pledged $100 billion annually at COP-15 in Copenhagen in 2009 to assist developing nations in promoting renewable energy, reducing emissions, and preparing for climate disasters. Yet, concrete progress on this front remains limited. COP-28 and COP-29 emphasized transitioning to green energy, increasing energy efficiency, and ensuring climate justice. Notably, COP-29 introduced the “Global Cooling Pledge” to reduce emissions from refrigerants used in air conditioners, fridges, and other cooling equipment by 68% by 2050, addressing one of the significant sources of global warming.
Despite these efforts, the world continues to face severe challenges. Global temperatures are rising at a rate of 0.27°C per decade, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, glaciers are melting rapidly, sea levels are rising, and pollution remains pervasive. The 1.5°C warming limit, a key Paris Agreement goal, has not yet been achieved. UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted at the opening session, “We have failed morally and practically to keep global temperatures below 1.5°C. Leaders must reach consensus, especially when emissions reached record highs last year.”
Climate finance is once again expected to dominate discussions at COP-30. COP-29 set a target of $300 billion in support by 2035, and COP-30 aims to finalize these commitments. The United States’ policies remain under scrutiny, given its role as the world’s second-largest greenhouse gas emitter and one of the largest economies. Past decisions, including withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and cuts in clean energy funding, have hindered global efforts.
Developing nations will closely monitor financial commitments from developed economies. At COP-29, developing countries highlighted the need for $1.3 trillion to offset the costs of emission reductions, but developed nations only agreed to $300 billion annually. This gap is expected to be a major point of debate at COP-30.
India will also showcase its progress in clean energy. The country has already achieved 50% non-fossil energy capacity ahead of schedule, with over 256 GW of its 500 GW total energy capacity coming from renewable sources. Other nations, such as China, are also accelerating investment in renewable energy, demonstrating global momentum.
With rising global populations and increasing energy demand, nations must now establish a clear roadmap for emission reduction, despite ongoing differences between developed and developing countries. COP-30 represents both a challenge and an opportunity for the world to unite against the climate crisis and secure a sustainable, safe future for coming generations.
