The Conference of the Parties (COP) in Belém, Brazil
The Conference of the Parties (COP) will take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21, 2025. The question remains: will countries fulfill the commitments established in 2015, both in the Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement of 2015?
A Decade After the Landmark Agreements
Ten years after the international community’s signature on these instruments, the answer is uncertain. The United Nations’ report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reveals that only 17% of the 169 targets within the 17 SDGs remain unmet. This decline has been influenced by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts, and geopolitical tensions.
The Paris Agreement: A Call for Increased Climate Ambition
Under the Paris Agreement, countries must enhance their climate ambition by presenting new nationally determined contributions (NDCs) if they wish to meet the three objectives: keeping global warming below 2°C, striving for 1.5°C, boosting adaptation and resilience capabilities, and aligning financial flows. This translates to reducing global warming through adaptation and mitigation approaches.
However, developed countries continue to finance the fossil fuel and arms industries, slowing down Agenda 2030 transformations. Moreover, there are still insufficient mechanisms to protect the most vulnerable people and resources economically promised to Global South countries remain unfulfilled. Additionally, there has been no push for circular economy measures or democratic advancements, with the World Bank reporting that 72.5% of the global population lives in countries with restricted rights.
Unfavorable Circumstances Amidst Environmental and Democratic Crises
The expectations for addressing environmental emergencies, including the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and atmospheric and oceanic pollution, are not evident in the near future. Adding to this, the democratic crisis, threats against feminist agendas, forced displacement due to wars and natural disasters, paints an unfavorable picture. These events perpetuate a vicious cycle of poverty, hunger, and widen social inequalities.
Prioritizing Economic and Energy Security Over Human Security
The international community seems to focus on economic and energy security rather than human security or the climate crisis. Without a clear, binding plan involving governments and businesses to ensure a just transition and climate financing, little progress will be made.
Key Players: China and the United States
China, with 30.7% of global CO2 emissions, and the United States, with 12.5%, are the most polluting nations. The US, having withdrawn from the Paris Agreement twice, now poses a challenge to reaching 2015 commitments. Hope lies in China’s continued pledge to decrease its CO2 emissions at COP 30, pressuring other countries—including the US—to work towards zero emissions for the greater good.
Author’s Background
The author is a Doctor in International, European, Economic, and Environmental Law from Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany. She is a member of SNII, Level II, of the Europa+ Reflection Unit of COMEXI and the AMEI Environment Committee. She is a researcher at the Faculty of Global Studies at Anáhuac University and has authored books, articles, and book chapters on international environmental law, European law, migration, and international security in English, German, and Spanish. She is a guest columnist for various newspapers and media outlets, including radio and television: [email protected].
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What is COP 30? A: The Conference of the Parties (COP) will take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21, 2025.
- Q: What commitments are being referred to? A: The commitments established in 2015, both in the Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement.
- Q: How are countries performing regarding their SDG targets? A: Only 17% of the 169 targets within the 17 SDGs remain unmet, with factors like COVID-19 and geopolitical tensions contributing to this decline.
- Q: What are the Paris Agreement’s objectives? A: To keep global warming below 2°C, strive for 1.5°C, boost adaptation and resilience capabilities, and align financial flows.
- Q: How are developed countries impacting climate ambition? A: They continue to finance fossil fuel and arms industries, slowing down Agenda 2030 transformations.
- Q: What are the challenges faced by vulnerable populations and Global South countries? A: Insufficient mechanisms for protection, unfulfilled economic resources, and restricted rights in many countries.
- Q: What is the current state of environmental and democratic crises? A: Unfavorable circumstances persist, with little expectation of addressing environmental emergencies or democratic advancements in the near future.
- Q: Why is a clear, binding plan necessary for progress? A: Without such a plan involving governments and businesses, little progress will be made in ensuring a just transition and climate financing.
- Q: What roles do China and the United States play in COP 30? A: China, with significant CO2 emissions, and the US, despite withdrawing from the Paris Agreement twice, are key players. Hope lies in China’s continued pledge to decrease emissions and pressure other countries, including the US, towards zero emissions.
