"It was great to see that the climate funding goal has tripled, as that will help accelerate climate change adaptation. I was disappointed on the lack of detail about phasing out fossil fuels. It is unequivocal that fossil fuels underpin the climate crisis, yet their use continues, and in many nations is increasing. The $120 billion COP30 pledge for climate change adaptation is a teaspoon in the ocean of $7 trillion subsidies that fossil fuel industries receive each year https://www.imf.org/en/topics/climate-change/energy-subsidies). Surely diverting some of these subsidies would help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and encourage climate resilience?"

"This COP on the edge of the Amazon showed that international climate cooperation lives on, even without the US. It dealt with all the hard, real-world challenges of implementation - fossil fuels, finance, just transition and trade - and on some took only small steps, not aligned with the urgency the science and humanity needs. But in a rapidly warming world, every issue is a climate issue and in dealing with them collectively COP30 saw that the world mostly remains in the same tent, even one that is flooded, fire-affected, hot and chaotic."

"There is room for improvement and much more urgent action needed to keep 1.5 within reach.

This COP is weak on mitigation ambition. The Mitigation Work programme decision, in particular is weak. Particular groups also worked to prevent any reference to the Global Stocktake, and the Global Stocktake energy package (paragraph 28 of the GST decision text) that includes commitments to transition away from fossil fuels and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

It was important to get an outcome at this COP, and at this moment in multilateralism. Particularly given the United States recent decision to exit the Paris Agreement for a second time. The remaining 194 States who are Parties to the Paris Agreement needed to ensure that there was an outcome.

The outcome on Just Transition is good. The statement by the Brazil COP President on his announcement of a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels is also a welcome announcement. But we need to be able to discuss these issues of fossil fuel transition and the GST within the negotiation rooms, and this means a discussion of the GST and the GST energy package.

Looking ahead I welcome the Turkey/ Australia Presidency Agreement and I look forward to COP31 delivering on mitigation ambition. The top priority for the Vanuatu and the Pacific will be keeping 1.5 Alive."

“I've been going to COPs for a decade, but this was by far the most difficult one. Not only did we face floods, fires, and extreme heat, the geopolitics was really stacked against us in Brazil. In that context, the outcomes from COP30 still managed to build powerful momentum on the need to phase out fossil fuels, with over 80 countries supporting a global roadmap to transition away from fossil fuel.

The COP30 outcomes are a sign that we are moving away from negotiating global consensus statements - which often end up with the lowest common denominator - and instead are moving into the implementation phase of the Paris Agreement.

Australia and Türkiye now have a big job ahead of them; they will have to shepherd a growing 'coalition of the willing' ready to rapidly phase out fossil fuels, while navigating the growing tension between those countries that are scaling up renewables and those that remain deeply dependent on the fossil fuel economy."

"COP30 has unequivocally declared that "Education is at the core of climate resilience.” Climate change education is not merely a priority; it stands as the greatest moral imperative of the 21st century. This revelation isn’t new. The United Nations has long advocated for environmental, sustainability, and climate change education as crucial solutions to the pressing threat of anthropogenic climate change. Yet, amid these bold international declarations, we face a stark reality: the courage to actualise these ideals at the national level is glaringly absent.

This dilemma brings us back to a fundamental question: What is education for? In education systems driven by capitalist ideals, climate change education is frequently relegated to the bottom of the priority list.  What we need is not just a minor adjustment; humanity demands nothing less than a radical transformation of our educational frameworks. It is time to rise to the challenge and courageously redefine education.  As Angela Davis once said we can ‘no longer accept the things’ we cannot change. We must change ‘the things we cannot accept.’"

“Australia’s leadership critical in 2026 to safeguard health and survival under 1.5 degrees with a disappointing end to the “implementation COP” in Belém".

Climate adaptation finance
“Amid extreme heat, floods and a fire, delegates experienced life on the equator under climate and health stress. While the COP30 agreement to triple adaptation finance by 2035 is a positive step, pushing out the delivery date compared to the 2030 timeline requested by developing countries means many more people will suffer as healthcare systems, homes and livelihoods are pushed to the limit”.

Fossil fuel transition
“We were buoyed to see Australia join 80 countries to support a Fossil Fuel Phase Out Roadmap and 23 countries to support Columbia’s proposal for the Belem Declaration on the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels. The declaration reaffirms determination to work collectively towards a just, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels, aligned with pathways consistent with limiting the temperature rise to 1.5.

Australia will play an important role in 2026 to bring these commitments to the COP negotiating table. Governments urgently need to phase out fossil fuels - the primary driver of climate change - to avoid irreversible tipping points and to safeguard health. Australia is extremely vulnerable to climate impacts, our health systems are not prepared for current and future shocks and stressors and our Pacific neighbours need a fossil fuel phase out to ensure their survival”.

Just Transition
“We commend positive progress on the just transition work program including a mechanism for implementation with governments recognising the importance of protecting the human right to health and a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in just transitions”.

The Australian Government’s DCCEEW provided a travel grant to enable CAHA to attend the COP in Belem.