Global Climate Progress Marches Forward at COP30 Despite Pressure from Washington, Fossil Fuel Industry
BELÉM, Brazil — As annual global talks (COP 30) come to a close, world leaders continued to make progress in confronting the climate crisis without the Trump administration in attendance.
A statement follows from NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) president Manish Bapna:
“Despite pressure from Washington and the fossil fuel industry, the world refused to backslide at this year’s climate talks. Though the pace of progress was slower than what the climate crisis demands, countries continued to march forward in the face of unprecedented headwinds.
“While much more work lies ahead, the climate conference concluded with most countries around the world, including almost all major emitters, setting new climate pollution reduction targets.
“Importantly, countries also set a new goal to at least triple adaptation finance by 2035 to provide critical support to the countries that are suffering the most from the climate crisis, yet have contributed to the problem the least, and have the fewest resources to address it.
“There is growing global consensus that cutting the pollution driving the climate crisis, and protecting against its impacts, is a matter of survival, of security, and of economic opportunity. Leaders around the world are increasingly recognizing that the costs of inaction—as well as the benefits of the solutions—are both simply too great to ignore.
“Progress made still falls short of what we need to meet the moment. But we saw large coalitions of countries and businesses setting the stage for future actions.
“While negotiators did not agree to roadmaps to transition away from fossil fuels and reverse deforestation and degradation by 2030 as many had hoped, over 85 countries supported the development of each. In a welcome surprise at the end of the conference, however, Brazil announced they will advance both roadmaps through a parallel political process. These action plans are needed to deliver on goals the global community has already set and must remain top priorities for ongoing global climate collaboration.
“While the targets set were stronger than in the past, they must be the floor, not the ceiling. Promises made in Brazil must be kept at home—from pollution cuts, to scaling up climate finance.
“The good news for the climate fight is that momentum continued to build at COP30 and does not stop when leaders go home. Ten years after the historic Paris Agreement, the economics have undeniably shifted in favor of clean energy—and the world is inevitably moving in that direction. The bad news for America is: The U.S. opts out of this multi-trillion-dollar market at its own peril—and the countries that step in will bring the jobs and economic opportunity home for themselves.”
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).