The next UN climate conference is only weeks away. With COP30 nearly upon us, are you wondering what the thorniest issues shaping the negotiations and potential outcomes are? In this blog, I provide an overview of some of the topics and issues being most hotly debated in the lead up to this event, as identified and described by those leading the process.
Simon Stiell, UNFCCC Executive Secretary – “Two years to save the world”
In this speech at Chatham House in April 2024, the UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell offers a sobering reflection on the rapidly narrowing window for effective climate action. The session’s purpose is forward-looking: to examine critically what the immediate future demands from global governance if catastrophic climate outcomes are to be avoided.
At 02:45, Stiell warns that humanity has “two critical years” to make decisions capable of preventing the most severe consequences of global warming. He outlines how perilously close the planet is to breaching irreversible tipping points, from the collapse of polar ice sheets to the potential savannisation of the Amazon, events that would permanently alter the global ecological balance.
Later, at 07:30, Stiell criticises current national climate strategies, arguing that too many remain rhetorical exercises rather than actionable policies. He emphasises that commitments devoid of measurable oversight are meaningless, drawing a crucial distinction between political theatre and substantive implementation. In doing so, he establishes a benchmark of accountability that will shape expectations for COP30.
At 12:10, Stiell emphasises that COP30 cannot be seen as an isolated event. It forms part of a broader trajectory connected to the Sustainable Development Goals and national policies. By situating the conference in this broader agenda, he urges the audience to view climate action as a long-term endeavour, not just an annual gathering.
At 18:50, he highlights the role of cities and grassroots movements. He notes that cities such as Bogotá and Paris already demonstrate how local policies — including clean public transportation, urban regeneration, and reforestation — can have a global impact. This reflects a strategic choice: sharing responsibility beyond national governments. At 25:30, he further develops this, stressing the need for integration between national policies and local initiatives. Small projects only gain scale, he insists, when connected to national decarbonisation strategies — citing examples of countries aligning reforestation, renewables, and net-zero targets.
Finally, at 32:15, Stiell closes with a call to collective action. He does not hold back: every year lost increases the risk of climate collapse. His choice to end with a direct appeal reveals that the UN relies on public pressure to ensure governments deliver. The audience questions that follow add further depth to his speech and are worth watching.
André Corrêa do Lago – President of COP30
Next up, we have Brazilian Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, the President of COP30, speaking at the Casa Wilson Centre in Brasília, a diplomatic forum designed to promote collaboration across the spheres of climate policy, energy transition, food security, and sustainable development. Conducted on 26 February 2025, this interview outlines Brazil’s role and moral responsibility as both host and presidency of COP30.
At 03:25, Corrêa do Lago reflects on the symbolic significance of selecting Belém as the host city. Far more than a logistical convenience, the decision represents a deliberate political statement: positioning the Amazon at the “centre of international climate diplomacy”. This choice transforms COP30 from a procedural negotiation into a geopolitical and ethical commitment. By rooting the summit in the Amazon, Corrêa do Lago envisions a model of climate governance that is geographically grounded, socially inclusive, and politically strategic. His emphasis on symbolism and substance demonstrates Brazil’s ambition not merely to convene discussions, but to redefine the spatial and moral geography of global climate politics.
At 15:12, Corrêa do Lago stresses that this will be the “COP of implementation”. The focus will be on turning promises into tangible measures — such as deforestation reduction targets, mass reforestation, and net-zero commitments. His words make clear that Brazil does not want another summit defined by empty declarations. At 27:40, he broadens the view, defending Brazil’s role as mediator between developed and developing nations. This bridging role is strategic: without the Global South, there is no consensus; without the Global North, there is no financing. A crucial point emerges at 35:05, when he highlights internal coherence. Brazil cannot advocate international climate goals while tolerating domestic setbacks. This shows that external credibility depends on internal discipline.
At 42:50, he introduces another central element: the participation of civil society and, above all, Indigenous communities. As he indicates, without the voices of forest peoples — the true guardians of the territory — the conference would lose legitimacy. This choice reflects a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Finally, at 50:30, Corrêa do Lago calls for an integrated vision: the climate transition must reconcile environmental concerns, economic considerations, and social justice. It is a powerful conclusion that aims to frame COP30 as a turning point not only for Brazil but for global climate governance.
Ana Toni – CEO of the COP30 Organising Committee (Agência Pública / PUC-SP)
In an interview with Agência Pública at PUC São Paulo, Ana Toni, Chief Executive Officer of the COP30 Organising Committee, offers an insider’s view of the institutional and logistical complexities of hosting a global summit within the Amazonian context. While the discussion centres on operational challenges, it reveals a deeper governance philosophy underlying Brazil’s stewardship of COP30.
At 04:10, Toni describes the immense effort required to accommodate tens of thousands of participants in Belém, spanning transport infrastructure, urban logistics, and security coordination. Yet she is unequivocal: the real priority extends far beyond logistics. The summit’s core mission, she insists, is to amplify the voices of the Amazon and its peoples, ensuring the region is not merely a geographical setting but the intellectual and political heart of COP30. This framing transforms the act of organisation into one of moral architecture, reflecting Toni’s conviction that meaningful climate diplomacy depends as much upon inclusion and representation as it does upon procedural efficiency.
At 09:50, Toni advocates for the inclusion of local and Indigenous communities in negotiations. For her, this is a matter of legitimacy: it makes no sense to discuss the Amazon without those who live there. She returns to the issue of participation later. At 28:15, she emphasises the importance of inclusive dialogue spaces that bring diverse voices to the table. Success, she argues, will hinge on ensuring those usually excluded are heard.
At 16:35, she addresses diplomatic tensions. Developed nations push for more challenging targets, while many developing countries cite economic limitations. This clash will be inevitable in Belém, with Brazil expected to play a critical mediating role.
At 22:40, Toni stresses that COP30’s success will depend on alignment between federal, state, and municipal governments. Without such coherence, the conference risks internal strain.
At 36:50, Toni warns against excessive politicisation. She highlights that domestic political disputes in Brazil risks undermining the event’s credibility. In this respect, her speech underscores how COP30 will also be a test for Brazilian democracy and domestic climate and energy politics.
European Parliament Debate – Ana Toni and Antonio Decaro on COP30
Held on 3 July 2025, this session of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), chaired by Antonio Decaro (IT/S&D), convened legislators and international partners to examine the forthcoming COP30 in Brazil. Joining remotely, Ana Toni, CEO of the COP30 Presidency, contributed a perspective from the host nation’s leadership.
The debate situates COP30 within the broader European climate agenda, focusing on the tension between ambition and credibility in the European Union’s external climate leadership.
At 06:20, Toni underscores that COP30 must elevate the voices of the Global South not only symbolically, through its Amazonian location, but substantively, by ensuring that negotiation content reflects Southern and Indigenous perspectives. Decaro complements this view by emphasising Europe’s duty to maintain coherence and transparency in climate commitments, warning that leadership without delivery risks hollowing out credibility. The exchange highlights the interdependence between European accountability and Southern representation, both of which are vital to the legitimacy and success of COP30.
At 12:05, Antonio Decaro underlines that the European Union must adopt firm commitments without backsliding. In his view, Europe’s credibility is at stake. At 20:45, both discuss climate justice. Poorer countries, the least responsible for the crisis, are the ones suffering most. Here, climate finance emerges as an ethical issue, not merely a technical one.
At 28:30, Toni returns to the theme of diverse voices, insisting that indigenous and local communities must be protagonists. This is not token inclusion but recognition of ancestral knowledge.
At 35:50, the focus shifts to accountability. Targets without transparency are no more than empty promises.
Finally, at 42:10, the debate concludes with a call for international cooperation in science and technology. The idea is that solutions such as renewables and low-carbon agriculture must not remain confined to rich countries.
Bloomberg Debate – “The Road to COP30” (London Sustainable Business Summit)
The Bloomberg Sustainable Business Summit was held in London on 26 June 2025, convened business leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss the intersection of sustainability, finance, and innovation. Within this context, ‘the road to COP30’ debate explores two of the most contentious and decisive issues in international climate policy: climate finance and technology transfer.
At 05:15, Natasha White identifies a persistent asymmetry in global financial flows, noting that vulnerable nations, particularly in Africa, continue to face barriers to securing investment for renewable energy and climate adaptation, even as substantial pledges from wealthier countries remain unmet. The panel expands this critique by interrogating why, despite widespread recognition of the climate emergency, financial systems still fail to respond with proportional urgency. In reframing climate finance as a matter of justice and multilateral integrity, rather than mere economic aid, the debate underscores a fundamental truth: the transition to a sustainable global economy is not solely about the movement of capital, but about the redistribution of power and opportunity. By hosting the discussion in London, Bloomberg implicitly calls on the financial sector to reconcile its global influence with its ethical responsibility.
At 11:40, Will Kennedy points to another barrier: the sluggish flow of clean-energy investment, slowed by bureaucracy and regulatory uncertainty. Investors, he explains, hesitate to commit to emerging economies when rules and incentives lack clarity. This insight is key to understanding why promised investment and funds fail to reach those who need them.
At 18:50, Sarah Wells delivers a sharp warning: COP30 will be a test of credibility. If developed nations fail to honour their pledges, international trust could collapse — and without trust, multilateral negotiations lose strength. This is pivotal, as it puts the UN’s role as a forum for dialogue at risk.
Later, at 23:20, the panel examines Brazil’s role. The country must reconcile its image as a defender of the Amazon with its reality as a major agricultural exporter. This tension highlights how COP30 will also serve as a test of coherence for the host nation.
The debate deepens at 30:05, shifting towards emerging technologies such as green hydrogen, solar and offshore wind. Examples of countries already scaling these solutions prove that viable pathways exist — but they require political will and international coordination.
Finally, at 42:15, the group emphasises the importance of clear metrics and regular monitoring reports. Transparency is identified as a prerequisite if climate targets are to be taken seriously. The main message of the panel is clear: without concrete finance, COP30 risks becoming just another stage for speeches.
Taken together, these videos reveal the scale of COP30. On one side, Simon Stiell’s sense of urgency; on another, the complexity of finance explored by Bloomberg, combined with André Corrêa do Lago’s strategic vision, Ana Toni’s realism, and European pressure for concrete results. Belém will be more than a host city it will be the stage where Brazil must prove it can lead with coherence and inclusion. For me, these speeches and debates reveal that COP30 is not just another conference, it is a historic opportunity to ensure that words are finally turned into action.