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🌍 COP30 will be one of the most crucial climate summits in recent history—and Brazil is at the centre of it. Brazil faces opportunities and challenges in shaping the global climate agenda as the host nation. But what’s at stake? What are the key issues? And how has Brazil’s environmental landscape evolved?
📌 Welcome to our dedicated COP30 hub, where we provide up-to-date news, in-depth analysis, and interactive features to keep you informed before, during, and after the summit.
🔗 Stay updated with our latest articles, key insights, and breaking news below.
Featured articles
Latest updates
24th of November 2025
13:30 GMT / 10:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
A heavily watered-down agreement was adopted on Saturday afternoon, with the general sentiment being one of reluctant agreement rather than significant progress having been made.
Our initial assessment is below.
More to come.
22nd of November 2025
17:45 GMT / 14:45 BRT (Brasília Time)
After literally the whole world’s media have reported a deal has been struck, this has been thrown into doubt after angry protests from Panama, Paraguay and Colombia who claimed their points of orders have been ignored and that they as a result have objected to the deal.
Clarification: this was not related to the agreement itself, but a separate adaptation agreement.
This has prompted the COP President, Andre Correa do Lago, to suspend the plenary and throw the whole process into chaos.
Right now it is unclear as to whether there is an agreement or if further negotiations are needed.
16:30 GMT / 13:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
Another draft has been released, with organisers hoping it will be the final document. Plenary is currently in progress, going through the agreement – see live stream above.
The text, as expected, with no reference to fossil fuels, has now been published.
14:30 GMT / 11:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
If an agreement is reached that does not include any kind of reference to fossil fuels, it is hard to see how this would not be a massive defeat for the EU and many other countries that insisted this was a red line.
14:10 GMT / 11:10 BRT (Brasília Time)
The time has just passed 11:00 in Belem, and that a global deal hangs in the balance is the understatement of the century.
A plenary is due to begin at 12:00 local time, and a new version of the text is about to be released with the COP President, Andre Correa do Lago, having, via Instagram, released a statement that a roadmap for transitioning to fossil fuels will not be included, but that he believes a deal will still be agreed upon.
21st of November 2025
20:45 GMT / 17:45 BRT (Brasília Time)
With only 15 minutes left of the scheduled time of COP30, we are officially into overtime, and based on where negotiations stand, we are unlikely to have a deal before the early hours of Saturday morning.
But we are staring at a very strong no-deal scenario as Arab fossil-fuel producing countries and some African countries with large fossil fuel resources are adamant that any agreement should not include any kind of pledge to transition away from fossil fuels.
Led by the EU, small island nations and the developing economies that are facing the largest impacts of climate change in the world and who have done the least to cause this, are not acceptable and are not terms they can agree on.
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16:45 GMT / 13:45 BRT (Brasília Time)
One of the many COP30 sidelines events is the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) – run by the German Watch institute., which has unveiled its latest standings, with more praise for Denmark as it’s claiming top spot, though worth underlining that no country is doing well enough to occupy the first three positions, with Denmark’s leadership position being in the fourth position.
15:30 GMT / 12:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
The trajectory of whether a deal can be agreed has swung towards the no-deal scenario as more than 30 countries have already said, including the transition away from fossil fuels, language is the minimum requirement.
EU’s Commissioner for Climate, Wopke Hoekstra, have said that what is currently on the table is unacceptable and not something the union can accept.
13:30 GMT / 10:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
A global stocktake plenary hosted by the COP President has just started.
Watch it live above.
10:15 GMT / 07:15 BRT (Brasília Time)
Even yesterday, before the latest draft text, Johan Rockstrom, the architect behind Planetary Boundaries, expressed serious concerns about where we are:
10:00 GMT / 07:00 BRT (Brasília Time)
While we are awaiting reactions to come in, this latest development is even more remarkable considering the statement yesterday by Brazilian president ‘Lula’, who said it was crucial for the ‘transition away from fossil fuels’ language to be present in the text.
Our article on yesterday’s interventions by ‘Lula’ and the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres:
09:45 GMT / 06:45 BRT (Brasília Time)
It’s the early hours in Belem, in what could be a very long day at the, at least planned, last day in Belem as the divisions seem to be enormous.
The latest draft text of what is hoped will be the final decision, the ‘Global Mutirão’ has removed the language of fossil fuels.
There will be serious questions about whether we are making progress at all, and ‘Groundhog Day’ comes up again, as we have been here before.
20th of November 2025
21:00 GMT / 18:00 BRT (Brasília Time)
Yesterday we spoke to Natalie Klepacova, Programme Communications Coordinator at Cool Earth.
In this extract, she gives us an introduction to Cool Earth and its mission to protect rainforests and their Indigenous Peoples and why they’re offering a solution to what rainforest communities need and want.
17:30 GMT / 14:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
Many have been in full admiration of Denmark, which has committed to emission cuts of 82% by 2035.
Ironically the conversation in Denmark is that the government have been criticised for not being ambitious enough.
16:45 GMT / 13:45 BRT (Brasília Time)
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, has also been speaking. As always, he did not mince his words. Below are some selected quotes from his statement:
“We are down to the wire, and the world is watching Belém”
“After decades of denial and delay by many, science tells us that a temporary overshoot above 1.5 degrees – starting at the latest in the early 2030s – has become inevitable.”
This means more heat and hunger.
More disasters and displacement;And a higher risk of crossing climate tipping points – unleashing irreversible damage, including here in the Amazon.
Guterres urged countries to resolve their differences, and
“Compromise and find common ground.
No delegation will leave Belém with everything it wants…
But every delegation has a duty to reach a balanced deal.
First, on protecting people.
For millions, adaptation is not an abstract goal.
It is the difference between rebuilding and being swept away;
Between replanting and starving;
Between staying on ancestral land or losing it forever.
Adaptation needs are skyrocketing – and the overshoot will push them even higher.
15:30 GMT / 12:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
In a much-anticipated statement, the Brazilian president, Lula, made earlier, which also included statements from other key members of the country’s delegation.
He warned what is at risk if countries do not unite around around a common goal:
“I would like to tell you something extremely important: leaders who govern today must understand that if we do not act according to the aspirations of the people, youth, and women, we risk putting democracy, multilateralism, and credibility at stake.
If we do not deliver what people expect from us, they have no reason to trust their leaders. The climate issue is no longer an academic matter for a few intellectuals or environmentalists. The climate crisis is now extremely serious and threatens humanity.”
He emphasised the need to do more to transition away from fossil fuels and voiced his backing for the roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels:
“We must convince people that multilateral development banks—charging exorbitant interest rates from African countries and poor nations in Latin America—must convert part of this debt into investment, so energy transition can truly occur.
Oil companies must pay part of this. Mining companies must pay part of this. Those who earn large fortunes must pay part of this—otherwise the poorest people on Earth will suffer most: the islands, the poor in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Everyone must understand their responsibility.
That is why we introduced the Roadmap. We must show society that we are serious—without imposing anything on anyone, without setting deadlines. Each country has the sovereignty to determine what it can do within its timeframe and capacities, but we must show seriousness.
We must reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. If fossil fuels emit too much, we must begin thinking about how to live without them and how to build that path.
I say this freely, because I am from a country that has oil—a country that extracts 5 million barrels per day—but also a country that uses the highest proportion of ethanol blended into gasoline; a country that produces large amounts of biodiesel—our diesel already contains 15 per cent biodiesel; a country in which 87 per cent of electricity is clean. I want everyone to have that.”
19th of November 2025
18:00 GMT / 15:00 BRT (Brasília Time)
In the wake of yesterday’s significant re-emergence of the transition away from fossil fuels language in the draft text, more than 80 countries have signed up to a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels.
17:55 GMT / 14:55 BRT (Brasília Time)
According to the COP30 schedule, the summit is scheduled to be completed on Friday, leaving just over two days left of negotiations. However, against the normal COP procedure, the Brazilian organisers are hoping to wrap things up ahead of time with a key high-level implementation session about to start. Watch proceedings live above.
18th of November 2025
17:30 GMT / 14:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
On a less serious note, Carbon Brief is running a sweepstake on what day and time COP30 will conclude.
14:30 GMT / 11:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
The first draft of the text that could emerge as the final agreement has landed, and can be viewed here.
Most significant is the revival of the language ‘transitioning away from fossil fuels’.
Other key elements:
Similar language as we have heard in other COP’s but much stronger emphasis on the interlinking and that these challenges can’t solved independently of each other.
‘Underlining the interlinked global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss in the broader context of achieving sustainable development, as well as the vital importance of protecting, conserving, restoring and sustainably using nature and ecosystems for effective and sustainable climate action.’
This point cannot be downplayed and is a strong message delivered by the COP30 leadership and stressing the concerns around civil society being increasingly excluded by the UN leadership team and could be seen as a rebuttal of UN’s climate head Simon Stiell.
‘Stressing the important role and active engagement of non-Party stakeholders, particularly civil society, business, financial institutions, cities and subnational authorities, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, people of African descent, youth and children, and research institutions.’
In plain English, this is saying that what developed economies pledged to in the Paris Agreement has not been fulfilled.
‘Recalling with concern that the pre-2020 gaps in both mitigation ambition and implementation by developed country Parties and that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change had earlier indicated that developed countries must reduce emissions by 25–40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, which was not achieved.’
This addresses that we are depleting what is left of the carbon budget agreed to in the Paris Agreement; sticking to this is essential to have a chance to achieve a 1.5 degrees C temperature increase.
‘Also recalling with concern that the carbon budget consistent with achieving the Paris Agreement temperature goal is now small and being rapidly depleted, and acknowledges that historical cumulative net carbon dioxide emissions already account for at least four fifths of the total carbon budget for a 50 per cent probability of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C.’
Expect negotiators to passionately fight across these points for the remainder of the summit.
Once the first comments comes in, we will gather an idea of the divisions and sticking points between countries.
13:15 GMT / 10:15 BRT (Brasília Time)
But there’s also a heightened sense of controversy brewing at COP30.
In the light of Friday’s protest by an indigenous group, more than 200 human rights and environmental groups have accused the UN climate chief, Simon Stiell, of encouraging a state crackdown on Indigenous people at the climate talks.
An open letter has accused Stiell of creating a chilling atmosphere and creating an unsafe environment for Indigenous peoples, environmental and other human rights defenders, civil society, and activists standing up for their rights.
13:00 GMT / 10:00 BRT (Brasília Time)
On the first day of COP30’s second week, the atmosphere intensified.
First a series of high-profile stakeholders, led Brazil’s environment minister Marina Silva who called for implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Delivered at the high-level plenary, Vice President of Brazil, Geraldo Alckmin, said. “This must be the conference of truth, of implementation, and above all, of responsibility,” he stated. We must all act in such a way that every decision made in the present—political, economic, industrial, or environmental—contributes to preserving the conditions for life on Earth, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring justice between generations.”
And UN’s climate head Simon Stiell, called for speeding up the process: “I urge you to swiftly engage with the most challenging issues. When these matters are deferred to overtime, we all lose. Tactical delays and procedural obstructions are no longer tenable. The time for formal diplomacy has passed. Now is the moment to roll up our sleeves, unite, and deliver.”
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17th of November 2025
15:30 GMT / 12:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
The second and more crucial week two of COP30 has kicked off with high-level ministerial negotiations on forests and the 2025 Global Methane Phase-out.
16th of November 2025
23:00 GMT / 20:00 BRT (Brasília Time)
The environment minister of Brazil, Marina Silva, has urged countries to have the courage to commit to the phasing out of fossil fuels, the Guardian reports.
15th of November 2025
13:00 GMT / 13:00 BRT (Brasília Time)
There’s growing anger from civil society that marginalised voices at COP30 are not being heard, resulting in one indigenous group staging a blockade for several hours on Friday morning, preventing delegates from entering.
Our story:
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13th of November 2025
17:00 GMT / 14:00 BRT (Brasília Time)
David Nicholson, Chief Climate Officer at Mercy Corps, just spoke to us about his COP30 perspectives and his understanding of the progress of the talks.
11:30 GMT / 08:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
Our article is now live on the China analysis, a more detailed in-depth article to follow.
But less welcome news from another analysis, which says the world is on track for warming of 2.6 degrees C and very little effort has been made to change that trajectory.
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12th of November 2025
10:00 GMT / 07:00 BRT (Brasília Time)
Encouraging news from China: analysis has found that emissions from the world’s largest CO2 emitter have been flat or falling for the past 18 months.
11th of November 2025
14:30 GMT / 11:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
Ethiopia has been confirmed as the host of COP32 in 2027.
14:00 GMT / 11:00 BRT (Brasília Time)
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell delivered his opening statement yesterday:
If you missed it the opening ceremony can be watched back here:
10th of November 2025
11:00 GMT / 08:00 BRT (Brasília Time)
Even though there were pre-discussions last week, we are two hours away from the proceedings officially getting underway with the COP30 opening ceremony getting underway at 10:00 local time (BRT) / 13:00 GMT.
We will be frequently updating this page over the course of the following two weeks and are working on setting up a livestream, here and on YouTube.
10:30 GMT / 07:30 BRT (Brasília Time)
Prof. Dieter Helm, at Oxford University, has offered a strong critique of the COP30 process and the net-zero agenda during an interview with UNHerd:
7th of November 2025
The pre-meetings of COP30 have started, which can be followed on the stream below:
30th of October 2025
On the subject of climate adaptation, in this excerpt from our interview with the climate scientists Dr Susannah Fisher, whose book Sink or Swim was published this month, she argues why we need to put a much bigger focus on adapting to a warmer climate.
The interview with Dr Fisher will be published next week.
Excerpt from our interview with Dr Susannah Fisher.
30th of October 2025
The most severe hurricane of the 2025 season struck Jamaica and other Caribbean countries this week, which could present an impetus less than two weeks before the start of COP30.
26th of October 2025
The UK government have performed a U-turn, saying that Prime Minister Keir Starmer will now attend the summit. joining the hair to the British throne Prince William in Brazil.
22th of October 2025
Less than a month ahead of the crucial summit, report details the world’s coal dependency and how countries are struggling to wean itselfs of the dirtiest of fossil fuels.
3rd of April 2025
Last month, the United Nations (UN), Germany and Brazil joined diplomatic forces to convince the world of the national and economic security benefits of pursuing ambitious climate action in challenging geopolitical times on a fast-warming planet.
24th of March 2025
One of the world’s most influential climate scientists has a key message for Brazil:
A greener life, a greener world 