Belém, Brazil – The UN Climate Summit, COP30, kicked off on Monday with world leaders facing intense pressure to address the escalating climate crisis. However, the absence of fossil fuels from the official agenda has sparked concerns among activists and some countries, who argue that the root cause of the crisis is being ignored.
Only 79 of 197 UNFCCC countries have submitted new or updated national climate targets, falling short of expectations. The 2025 Emissions Gap Report warns that global emissions must drop by 42% by 2030 to keep the 1.5°C goal alive, but current pledges are woefully inadequate.
“Adaptation is a must – and must be funded,” said Mattias Söderberg, Global Climate Lead at DanChurchAid. Delegates at COP30 are expected to focus on an “Adaptation Package” to help developing countries cope with worsening droughts, floods, and storms.
UNEP’s latest Adaptation Gap Report estimates these countries will need $310-365 billion annually by 2035 – twelve to fourteen times today’s adaptation finance levels.
“Adaptation is not generosity; it is justice,” Söderberg emphasized. “Communities in the Global South are paying the highest price for emissions they did not cause. Without drastic new investments, their survival is on the line.”
The summit comes as the world grapples with competing agendas related to security, trade, and geopolitics, which may shape party priorities. “Hope must be kept alive amid these deep divisions,” Söderberg said, adding, “Climate change is not on hold, and we are at a point in history where everyone must do everything possible to manage this crisis.”
Söderberg’s sentiments were echoed by other experts, who warned of the dire consequences of inaction. “The world is sleepwalking toward a dangerous future,” he said.
Background:
– The Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015 and aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
– The Dubai Consensus was reached at COP28 and emphasizes the need for urgent action to address the climate crisis.
– The Global Stocktake is a process that assesses collective progress towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
