The final week of the United Nations’ (UN) Climate Change Conference, COP30, is underway. The gathering of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is taking place in Belém from 10-21 November, with most signatories represented.
According to the World Economy Forum, here are some of the issues dealt with during the first week:
A sense of togetherness: The UN’s Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, told delegates: “In this arena of COP30, your job here is not to fight one another – your job here is to fight this climate crisis, together.”
Defeating climate deniers: “It is time to face reality,” warned Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in his opening address, who called on delegates to fight fake news and climate denialism. “COP30 must be the COP of truth. It is time to take the scientific warnings seriously,” he warned.
Combatting climate disinformation: Ten countries have endorsed the ‘Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change’, which commits the signatories to addressing climate disinformation and promoting accurate, evidence-based information on climate issues.
Emphasis on digital tools: The Green Digital Action Hub and AI Climate Institute launched, empowering developing nations with tools and data to design their own climate solutions.
Financing for forests: The Tropical Forest Forever Facility was announced to protect tropical forests, along with pledges supporting Indigenous Peoples, local communities and land rights.
Health in a changing climate: The Belém Health Action Plan received 80 endorsements from 30 countries and 50 partners among civil society and IGOs so far, marking “a milestone in making adaptation of the health sector a priority through a roadmap for countries to build resilient health systems and accelerate global cooperation”. So far, $300 million has been pledged to the initiative.
