Many observers worry COP30 might lack sense of urgency

(MENAFN) As COP30 takes place in Belem, Brazil, from Nov. 10 to Nov. 21, thousands of delegates, activists, journalists, and industry representatives have gathered at the gateway to the Amazon. The summit carries high expectations, given Brazil’s historical role in hosting the original Earth Summit, with hopes of advancing meaningful climate action.

Yet many observers worry that the 30th UN climate conference may repeat familiar patterns, offering limited tangible outcomes while serving as a stage for lobbyists and officials, leaving urgent environmental issues sidelined.

Patrick Galey, head of fossil-fuel investigations at Global Witness, told a British daily newspaper that a key challenge is a “lack of urgency.” Similar concerns have been voiced by former climate leaders, including Ban Ki-moon and Christiana Figueres, who warned last year that the COP system is “no longer fit for purpose.”

Albert Norstrom, associate professor at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, explained that the COP process has fulfilled its initial diplomatic goals, delivering agreements such as the Paris Agreement, methane pledges, and climate-finance mechanisms. However, he emphasized that the current decade demands concrete action, and COP is falling behind. According to Norstrom, global emissions are still rising, natural carbon sinks are weakening, and the 1.5°C warming threshold could be exceeded within years. “The architecture was built for negotiation, not ambitious delivery. So, yes, it worked for building the framework – but it’s failing to turn promises into performance,” he said.

Critics also highlight the imbalance in participation, noting that wealthy nations and industry groups flood COP events with large delegations, dominating side events and attention. This often promotes weak or misleading climate initiatives while overshadowing the voices of those most directly affected by climate change.

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