COP30 in Belém: From Commitments to Climate Action

From 10 to 21 November 2025, the Brazilian city of Belém hosts the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN Climate Change Conference, COP30).

November 14, 2025

The choice of Belém is significant: the city is located on the edge of the Amazon basin, underscoring the central theme of the conference — the role of forest ecosystems in addressing the global climate crisis.

The conference comes at a crucial juncture. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 2023, 2024, and 2025 were the three hottest years in the entire period of instrumental observations. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo notes that achieving the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C will be virtually impossible in the next few years without a temporary overshoot. However, she says that it’s still entirely possible and essential to bring temperatures back down to 1.5°C by the end of the century.

Accelerating the implementation of existing commitments

The main task of COP30 is to accelerate the implementation of already adopted climate plans. The conference is taking place at a key stage in the Paris Agreement cycle: each country is developing its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and increasing its ambition every five years. It is expected that most countries will present their more ambitious third-generation NDCs (NDC 3.0) at the Conference.

To date, 113 parties have officially submitted their NDC 3.0.

Most countries' current national plans fall short of the Paris Agreement. Last week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the actions taken are inadequate to prevent the consequences of climate change, characterizing the situation as critical.

The Belém Conference aims to catalyze practical implementation. One such step should be the "Baku-Belém roadmap" prepared by the presidencies of COP29 and COP30. The document sets out priorities for resource mobilization, including strengthening multilateral climate funds, expanding international cooperation on taxing environmentally harmful activities, and converting public debt into climate investments — a step that could unlock up to US$100 billion for developing countries.

Three pillars of the COP30 climate agenda

The conference agenda focuses on three interrelated areas: energy transition, climate finance, and social justice.

Energy transition. Participants are discussing the phase-out of fossil fuels and the scaling up of renewable energy sources, with the central issue being how to ensure a just transition that considers the differing capabilities of developed and developing countries.

Climate finance. Mobilizing financial resources to support developing countries is a priority of global climate policy. Delegates aim to mobilize at least US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to finance actions against the climate crisis, focusing on developing countries.

Social justice. The proposed Belém Action Mechanism for a Global Just Transition (BAM), an institutional arrangement under the UNFCCC, will help address the fragmentation of global efforts for just transition to a low-carbon economy. The mechanism performs three key functions: coordinating existing initiatives and addressing gaps in line with the Paris Agreement, sharing knowledge and best practices, and providing direct support to countries in the Global South through mobilizing finance and transferring technology.

Forest COP

COP30 has been dubbed the “Forest COP” due to its emphasis on the role of tropical forests as significant carbon sinks. The Amazon, estimated to contain 150-200 billion tons of carbon, is at the center of discussions about global climate stability.

Brazil, as the host country, has launched an initiative to establish a $125 billion Tropical Forest Forever Facility, which will help mobilize funds to protect forests around the world. The country has demonstrated progress: the deforestation rates in the Amazon have fallen to an 11-year low. However, experts stress the need to further strengthen environmental measures to preserve this critically important ecosystem.

In addition to forests, the conference agenda includes issues of biodiversity conservation and ocean protection as important components of the global climate system.

Tall pine trees from below, reaching toward a clear blue sky. — Photo: UNDP in Belarus.

COP30’s global priorities are reflected in national climate programs. With support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Belarus is implementing projects directly related to the priorities of the conference.

The country is implementing a number of initiatives that demonstrate the connection between global goals and national actions.

Participants of the project “Safeguarding Forests of Belarus: A Comprehensive Fire Preparedness Initiative for Community-Based Fire Prevention and Response”.

Photo: UNDP in Belarus

In Belarus, where forests cover approximately 40% of the territory, with UNDP support and funding from China’s Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, preparedness for forest fire prevention and response is being improved with the participation of local communities.

This project is a clear example of a Nature-Based Solution that advances the global climate agenda on two fronts: it contributes to mitigation by protecting the vast carbon stocks stored in Belarus's forests and supports adaptation by building community resilience to the increasing threat of climate-induced wildfires.

As COP30 in Belém focuses on forests, this initiative provides a tangible model of the actions needed to implement NDCs 3.0 and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Calm lowland bog bordered by tall reeds with distant trees, reflecting blue sky and clouds. — "Sporauskaye" - one of the biggest fen mires in Eastern Europe.

Photo: UNDP in Belarus.

Particular attention is being paid to peatlands, which cover 12.3% of Belarus' territory. Their conservation and restoration offer great potential for reducing emissions and absorbing CO2. UNDP has supported the development of the Law on the Protection and Use of Peatlands’, and developed and tested rewetting methodology, aiming at preventing further degradation and restoring drained peatlands.

As part of its energy transition, the country has set a target of increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the national energy mix from 6% to 8% by 2030. For two decades, UNDP has been supporting projects in the field of wind energy, the introduction of low-carbon technologies in industry, and the use of biomass.

The principle of social justice is implemented through the engagement of young people on the climate agenda. UNDP's Global Climate Pledge initiative supported the development of NDC 3.0, which Belarus officially presented on November 10, 2025. The updated national plan defines the country's climate actions until 2035 and provides for a 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990, or a 47% reduction in a scenario with additional measures (considering land use, land-use change, and forestry indicators).

From Belém negotiations to concrete action

COP30 aims to translate climate commitments into measurable action. The effectiveness of the conference will be determined by the ability of participating countries to implement the decisions taken through concrete national measures.

The conference will end on 21 November 2025, after which countries will have to integrate the Belém decisions into their updated national climate plans. The next year will show how successfully the international community can move from discussions to practical steps to prevent climate change and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.