Planning your COP30 communications strategy? Here’s everything we know so far, why we’re feeling hopeful about its potential, and what we’re keeping an eye on.
The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is set to take place in November in Belém, Brazil. After two years of hosting in petrostates, this year’s conference marks a pivotal shift in setting and focus. We’ll be heading to Belém to support clients with their COP30 communications strategies, PR and storytelling, hoping to see a conference that fosters genuine climate action.
Hosting the event in Brazil—home to the Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth”—highlights the critical role of ecosystem preservation in combating climate change. The conference will bring together world leaders, industry representatives, and civil society to assess progress on the Paris Agreement and advance investment and commitments to limit global temperature rise.
While past climate conferences have faced challenges and uncertainties, we remain optimistic about COP30. Despite setbacks such as the US pulling out of the Paris Agreement or scaling back commitments, the global climate movement continues to gain momentum. Clean energy technologies are advancing, carbon removal investment is increasing, and financial commitments to climate adaptation and mitigation are growing.
With eight months to go before the world’s most influential leaders gather in Amazonia, here’s a breakdown of what we know so far, why we’re hopeful this year’s conference will drive real commitment and action, and what we’re watching in the lead-up to the event.
What we know so far
Location
Belém, the gateway to the Amazon River, is a fitting host city, reinforcing the importance of nature-based solutions and indigenous leadership in climate and nature protection. Since the host city was announced, Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has pledged to prioritise environmental policies and sustainable development. His administration has already made strides in reducing deforestation and strengthening environmental enforcement. This location could create an environment where Amazon protection takes centre stage in global negotiations.
Leadership
At the start of the year, COP30’s leadership was confirmed, with André Corrêa do Lago appointed as President and Ana Toni announced as CEO. Their appointments were well received within the climate community, given their extensive experience. Corrêa do Lago has played a key role in climate diplomacy since 2001, representing Brazil in global climate summits and G20 climate discussions. While Toni, Brazil’s Climate Change Secretary since 2023, previously led Instituto Clima e Sociedade, a nonprofit supporting climate action in Brazil.
Global stocktake update
Following the first-ever Global Stocktake at COP28, COP30 will serve as a crucial moment for countries to reassess commitments and ramp up ambition to stay within the 1.5°C threshold. The previous stocktake revealed some progress, but current pledges remain inadequate to meet Paris Agreement targets. Nations must use COP30 as a platform to correct course and implement stronger national and international policies. We’re already seeing leadership from the UK’s 2035 National Determined Contribution (NDC), and we expect this to be a core theme as some of the UK activity in Belém.
Climate finance drive
Climate finance will be a major topic at COP30. Developing nations continue to demand increased financial support from wealthier countries to help adapt to climate impacts and transition to clean energy. The establishment of a loss and damage fund was a milestone in Dubai at COP28, but implementation has fallen short of expectations. COP30 will likely see strong pressure for clearer mechanisms to ensure pledged funds translate into tangible support for vulnerable communities, particularly Indigenous populations who disproportionately bear the effects of climate change.
Reasons to be hopeful
1. Indigenous leadership
Indigenous communities are playing a larger role in shaping COP30’s agenda, bringing valuable perspectives and urgency to climate discussions. With an estimated 1.5 million Indigenous people living in the Amazon rainforest, their inclusion at COP30 is vital to its success. In February, the Brazilian federal government met with traditional communities to gather insights on their priorities and concerns. We hope to see more of this as more plans for the conference are confirmed. Indigenous leaders are both essential environmental stewards and key stakeholders in climate discussions, and their involvement could lead to stronger protections for biodiversity and traditional knowledge systems. If you’re planning your strategic communications for COP30, consider how you can involve or amplify voices from traditional communities whose livelihoods are under threat without significant action on climate.
2. Strengthened global momentum
It’s easy to think the world is beginning to disengage with climate commitments when you read news about Trump’s roll back on the Paris Agreement or Argentina’s outburst at COP29, but the reality is most nations remain committed to their climate targets. The growing number of net-zero commitments from businesses, cities, and governments signals increasing alignment on decarbonisation – with the economic and geopolitical risks of not doing so made clear by the World Economic Forum’s latest Risk Report. Governments continue to face pressure from citizens, investors, and civil society to accelerate the benefits of action. This mounting momentum may push decision-makers at COP30 to adopt more ambitious policies.
3. Focus on deforestation and the Amazon
This year will see negotiation efforts to curb deforestation take place on the doorstep of the world’s largest rainforest. With Brazil already pledging to achieve zero deforestation by 2030, this could push deforestation to the forefront of discussions, rallying global support to end forest loss. The Amazon plays a critical role in carbon sequestration, and its protection is essential for mitigating global warming. Despite commitments, nearly 6.4 million hectares of forest were lost in 2023, making these discussions crucial to the conference’s success.
4. Advancing nature-based solutions
With the Amazon and nature conservation high on the agenda, COP30 is expected to provide a strong platform for nature-based solutions. We anticipate increased emphasis on solutions that preserve biodiversity and enhance soil health to combat climate change effects.
5. More opportunities for sustainability communications & stakeholder engagement
We’re already hearing from clients and our network that more businesses, NGOs, and stakeholders are planning to attend COP30 compared to recent years. This increased participation should create more opportunities for organisations to authentically share their climate and net-zero communications and commitments.
What we’re watching
1. Oil and gas expansion in the Amazon
Despite Brazil’s environmental commitments, recent discussions around oil exploration in the Amazon have raised concerns about contradictions in its climate policies. There will be mounting pressure on Brazil to reject fossil fuel expansion in favour of renewable alternatives and ensure ending reliance on fossil fuel is high on the meeting agenda.
2. Slow progress on climate finance
Although past COPs have seen financial commitments, mobilising and disbursing these funds remains a challenge. The amounts pledged are also widely considered insufficient given the scale of the climate crisis. Scrutiny on climate finance will likely intensify in the lead-up to and during COP30, and this is further under threat as Governments need to increase defence spending
3. Geopolitical tensions
COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago has already emphasised the importance of multilateralism in tackling climate change, but geopolitical tensions—particularly with Trump’s potential re-election—could complicate international negotiations. Trade-related climate issues are also expected to be a contentious topic. The G20 meeting in South Africa is becoming an early example of how some nations are retreating from a collaborative approach.
4. Belem’s readiness
With an estimated 50,000 attendees expected, concerns remain about whether Belém has the infrastructure to accommodate the influx of visitors. The host committee is already considering solutions such as alternative accommodations like cruise liners to address hotel shortages, and a new highway is being built that will cut through tens of thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest. Locals and conservationists have spoken out against the new road, saying the deforestation contradicts the purpose of COP30.
Gearing up for Belem
COP30 presents a crucial opportunity for nations, businesses, NGOs, and civil society to strengthen climate commitments against the backdrop of one of the world’s most critical forest regions. The outcomes of this conference will be pivotal in determining how we can get on track to meet the Paris Agreement and protect nature, communities, and ecosystems from further harm.
With many more announcements expected from the COP30 presidency in the coming months, we’ll be following developments closely. Based on what we know so far, we’re excited about the potential for real progress at this year’s conference.
Planning to attend COP30 Amazonia in November? We’ll be there to support clients with their strategic communications. Talk to us about your COP30 PR plans info@forster.co.uk