The 30th annual UN climate talks have ended, with a last minute grasp at forest action and fumble on a fossil fuel phaseout.
The final agreement
The first week of the climate talks in the Amazon showed cautious optimism with proposed plans of forward motion on a fossil fuel phase out and forest protection.
At the halfway point, civil society turned out with Indigenous Peoples and allies to march in the streets of Belém, demanding change and calling on their governments to step up climate ambition during the final week of negotiations.
Organized by the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib), the march brought together Indigenous people and activists in the streets of Belém, the host city of COP30. Carrying the message “We Are the Answer,” the demonstration marked “Indigenous Peoples’ Day at COP30,” promoting climate debate and the defense of the rights and territories of Indigenous peoples.
Organizada pela Articulação dos Povos Indígenas do Brasil (Apib), a marcha reuniu nesta segunda-feira, 17/11, indígenas e ativistas nas ruas de Belém, cidade sede da COP30. Com a mensagem “A Resposta Somos Nós” a manifestação marcou o “Dia dos Povos Indígenas na COP30”, promovendo o debate climático e a defesa dos direitos e territórios dos povos originários.
But the passion people showed on the streets did not translate into courage in the hallways of the negotiations. The first COP in the Amazon rainforest was long awaited as a turning point, to deliver an action plan to end forest destruction by 2030 and a Global Response Plan to address the 1.5°C ambition gap. But, despite an objection raised during the final plenary by Colombia and other Latin American countries over a lack of progress in climate mitigation, the final agreement produced neither result and did little to advance climate finance overall or push developed countries to commit public funding for the years ahead.
Greenpeace joined other NGOs and allies to participate in a silent banner drop in the Blue Zone, with a banner reading 1.5 Under Threat, Time to Act!
What started with strong hope and promise ended without any actionable roadmaps to end forest destruction and the burning of fossil fuels. Geopolitical divisions and the interests of billionaires, climate polluters and nature destroyers again spoke louder than the thousands of people calling for action in the streets of Belém.
Resist. Rise. Renew.
At the end of COP30, Greenpeace sends a message from the front of the COP30 venue with a banner reading “Resist – Rise – Renew”.
After three years in a row of having to navigate tight guidelines for peaceful protest and action at COPs, people power in Belém met the moment. From creative art performances to marches, civil society relentlessly made its presence felt both inside and outside of the COP venue.
In the 10th anniversary year of the Paris Agreement, Greenpeace constructed an Eiffel Tower replica made up of cardboard boxes with the sign ‘Fragile. Handle With Care’ to symbolise how the 1.5°C limit agreed in Paris is under threat.
Brazilian artivist Mundano delivered, in partnership with Greenpeace a striking art installation to demand world leaders take bold action for forests at COP30. Mundano wrote the message “COP30: Rise for Forests” with transparent ink, and used ashes taken from forest fires in the Amazon to reveal the text.
O artista e ativista brasileiro Mundano, em parceria com o Greenpeace, criou uma instalação artística para exigir que líderes mundiais tomem medidas ousadas em prol das florestas na COP30. Mundano escreveu a mensagem “COP30: Levante-se pelas Florestas” com tinta transparente e utilizou cinzas retiradas de incêndios florestais na Amazônia para revelar o texto.
After a dramatic pull and tug, COP31 next year will be in Turkey in the coastal city of Antalya, and share the presidency with Australia.
COP30 set a high bar, only to disappoint in the end, but the weak outcome does not do justice to the full story of what happened in Belém: the biggest Indigenous participation at a climate COP and the powerful protests organised by civil society, demanding action for people and planet that will persist until climate justice is delivered.
At the end of the first week of COP30, Greenpeace joined thousands of people at the Global Climate March in Belém. Greenpeace carried messages like “Respect the Amazon” and “Make Polluters Pay”. The Global Climate March was organised by civil society organisations and Indigenous Peoples groups from several parts of the world.
The first COP in the Amazon rainforest should have delivered an action plan to end forest destruction by 2030 and after 2035 climate action plans fell dangerously short, COP30 should also have delivered a Global Response Plan to bridge the 1.5°C ambition gap. It did neither. Nor did it deliver a meaningful step-up in climate…
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