President of the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Andre Correa do Lago, has acknowledged the limitations of such global negotiations, and the need to deliver on promises made at these summits.
Correa do Lago, a veteran climate negotiator, said it was necessary to be self-critical and push back against the belief that the so-called Conference of the Parties (COP) summits involved lots of talk and “meagre results”.
Calls for reform to the UN process on climate change have been raised for years, including by previous COP presidents and other respected global figures.
“In view of climate urgency, we need a new era beyond negotiating talks: we must help put into practice what we have agreed,” wrote the COP30 president in a letter to nations on Monday, March 10, 2025, ahead of the conference, scheduled for November in Brazil.
In a separate briefing to journalists, Correa do Lago said it was essential to “do our best to link the abstraction of these negotiations and the decisions of the COP to real life”.
He said there was a perception that these talks – which every year convene negotiators from nearly 200 nations for almost two weeks of intense haggling – did not deliver what was needed.
He also spoke of the “limits” of the UN climate process and its landmark accord, the Paris Agreement, in implementing decisions, and thinking more holistically about how to tackle global warming.
At COP30 in Belem, at the mouth of the Amazon River, countries will be judged on their national climate plans and pledges for stronger action to rein in greenhouse gas emissions.
But the timing is not favourable for big new commitments on climate change, with Europe shifting money towards defence, and the United States withdrawing from the Paris Agreement entirely.
“The international context is very difficult for negotiations,” said Correa do Lago.
“Let’s see how we can accelerate what we have already decided.”
Decisions at COP summits – which are overseen by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change – are taken by consensus, adding to the complexity in getting any agreement done.
In his letter, Correa do Lago referred several times to the Indigenous concept of “mutirao” – where communities unite around a common challenge – and invited the world to join such an effort.
“Humanity needs you,” he said, urging not just governments but the private sector, civil society and academia to get involved.
The COP30 presidency also wants to bring together a “circle of presidencies” from the past decade and Indigenous leaders.
In a response, 350.org stated that, in the letter, Correa do Lago laid out the initial vision for COP30, listing out key elements of the COP30 vision and noteworthy observations to include:
- 2.1°C as a Key Benchmark: The letter carefully avoids firm commitments, stating COP30 can be the moment for aligning finance and merging climate and digital transitions.
- Forests as a Time-Saving Strategy: Reversing deforestation is framed as a critical lever for immediate climate action.
- NDCs and Climate Ambition: Acknowledges the limitations of multilateral negotiations on NDCs but calls for a candid stocktake to identify obstacles to greater ambition.
- Energy Transition Signals: References global energy targets (tripling renewables, doubling efficiency, phasing out fossil fuels) but falls short on calling for direct inclusion in NDCs—leaving room for future negotiations).
- Climate Finance Roadmap: Mentions a “Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T” but lacks substantive detail on implementation.
- Indigenous Leadership: Acknowledges Indigenous contributions but does not yet articulate a clear role for them in COP30’s agenda.
- Process Innovations:
- “Circle of Presidencies”: Plans to involve past COP leaders (COP21–COP29) along with CBD and UNCCD presidencies for strategic guidance.
- Global Ethical Stocktake (GES): A new initiative to gather ethical perspectives on climate action from thinkers, scientists, artists, and Indigenous voices.
Toya Manchineri, General Coordinator of the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), said: “The president of the COP is right in seeing forests as an important response to the climate emergency. However, although forest protection is crucial, the true solution to the climate crisis lies in addressing the causes that generate it. Forest preservation will only be effective if we expand the demarcation of indigenous lands, ensure proper direct funding, and transition to a low-carbon society – and this needs to happen quickly.
“We can no longer delay the elimination of fossil fuels. The caution in the letter on this issue requires more courage and ambition. Otherwise, as the letter itself says, ‘the lack of ambition will be judged as a lack of leadership.’ The Amazon won’t hold up, no matter how much we do our part, if the planet continues to burn.”
Sinéia do Vale, Co-President of the International Forum of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Change for Latin America and the Caribbean (Indigenous Caucus), said: “The proposed ‘Circle of Indigenous Leadership’ in the letter is a step forward, but we need to ensure that it has a direct and meaningful connection with the decisions of the COP. I missed a greater emphasis on the indigenous leaders and organisations of Brazil, who are on the front lines and have a crucial role to play in this collective effort for climate justice.”
Ilan Zugman, Latin America and Caribbean Director, 350.org, said: “The proactive and detailed nature of this letter from the COP30 presidency is an encouraging sign – especially in contrast to COP29. This early engagement signals an intent to shape the agenda rather than react to it. It emphasises unity in the face of climate change rather than cynicism, aligning with Indigenous perspectives on collective action. However, COP30 must be about delivering action, not just having discussions and announcing commitments without clear ways for them to be implemented.
“While the letter acknowledges the importance of Nationally Determined Contributions, Indigenous peoples and renewable energy, it falls short on calling for concrete renewable energy targets and phasing out fossil fuels. The COP30 presidency must not follow the contradictory discourses around fossil fuel expansion that the Brazilian government has been playing with lately.
“It also leaves out a plan for the inclusion of Indigenous leadership in COP30’s decision-making process, as well as how the just energy transition will be tackled. This must be addressed in the coming months. The vision is there – now we need to see the mechanisms that will turn it into reality.”
Andreas Sieber, Associate Director of Policy & Campaigns, 350.org, said: “Outlining a vision for COP30 in such a detailed manner is a welcome shift after last year’s fossil fuel-captured and stagnant presidency. This early engagement signals an intention to shape the summit’s agenda rather than merely respond to it.
“The letter rightly underscores the urgency of new climate targets and the central role of Indigenous peoples at the Amazon COP. However, it falls short in setting concrete energy targets and committing to a fossil fuel phase-out. While it references the Global Stocktake and the landmark decision to transition away from fossil fuels and triple renewable energy, the real test lies in implementation.
“The COP30 presidency must now clarify how it will translate these commitments into action – especially as the world remains dangerously off track, including Brazil’s own continued fossil fuel expansion.”