What happened at COP30?
Despite its flaws, COP is still the only moment when 197 countries gather to collectively negotiate climate action. It provides a platform for climate-vulnerable countries to speak directly to the world, a space to secure funding for adaptation and rebuilding, and visibility for environmental movements worldwide.
So, here’s what happened COP30, why it’s still in the news, and what comes next.
Is COP30 finished?
Technically, yes. COP30 was held in Belém, Brazil from 10–21 November. But, if you felt like the conference has continued long after the closing ceremony, you’re not alone. Practically, COPs never stop the moment the gavel comes down – the political and scientific impacts continue long after the physical event ends.
New drafts are released at the last minute, and the “final decision text”, known as the cover decision, is usually published after delegates have already flown home. Additionally, decisions are finalised, countries issue their own statements, and unresolved issues are passed on to committees to negotiate further where necessary.
What happened at COP 30
1. Long-running climate finance disputes resurfaced
At COP30, climate finance was held up by the same core disagreements that have stalled progress for years, namely: who should pay. Developing nations argued that wealthier countries – responsible for most historical emissions – must contribute more. On the other hand, many richer nations insisted major emerging economies should also step in. They also failed to agree on how much money should be committed, with vulnerable countries pushing for a clear, substantial figure and donors resisting any fixed number or binding timeline.
There were further disputes over the form of finance, with climate-vulnerable countries calling for more grants while some major donors preferred loans, and over how predictable and long-term future finance should be. Even the question of who manages the funds, and what conditions should be attached, remained unresolved.
2. Adaptation frameworks were progressed
Delegates made progress on creating a global plan for how countries should prepare for climate impacts – such as heatwaves, floods and rising sea levels. This plan, often called an “adaptation framework”, sets out how countries will understand their climate risks, build resilience, and report what they’re doing.
But countries still disagreed on how detailed those rules should be. Nations most at risk of such impacts wanted clearer, stricter guidance so progress can be properly tracked, while others preferred more flexibility.
3. Indigenous and frontline voices gained more prominence
Belém’s setting in the Amazon brought Indigenous and frontline communities closer to the centre of discussions. Indigenous groups pushed hard for stronger protections, binding commitments on land use, and guaranteed funding channels they can control.
In response, delegates expanded recognition of Indigenous rights, traditional land stewardship and the importance of giving communities direct access to climate finance. However, many of their demands didn’t make it into the final text, and several large forest-country governments resisted language that would limit industrial expansion or tighten land-use rules.
4. The words ‘fossil fuel’ were removed from the final text
Ever since COP28 included the first reference to “transitioning away from fossil fuels”, countries have been split over how concrete that language should be. At COP30, climate-vulnerable nations and many European countries pushed for stronger, clearer commitments. And what we really wanted to see was a written commitment to “phase out fossil fuels” (oil, gas and coal), but major fossil-fuel producers and several countries with growing energy demand resisted anything that might constrain their economies.
As a result, the final text dropped all direct references to fossil fuels, replacing them with a softer, indirect nod to the previous COP28 agreement instead.
5. Discussions brought climate disaster funds forward
Work continued on how the loss and damage fund will actually function: who runs it, how money flows, and how communities can access support after climate-driven disasters. Delegates made progress on structure and governance, giving the fund more shape than in previous years.
But the hardest issues were not fully resolved, including: how much money will be put in, who pays, and how fast it reaches affected countries. Many vulnerable nations left COP30 saying the framework is clearer, but the finance behind it still isn’t, meaning the fund risks being a promising blueprint without the resources to match its purpose.
What happens next?
Between now and COP31, countries need to strengthen their national climate plans and start delivering on the adaptation and funding promises made in Belém. What’s more, they now have a clearer framework for tracking progress, which should make it easier to see who is acting, and who isn’t. Technical negotiations will also continue throughout the year, as countries refine unfinished parts of the agreement and prepare the ground for the next round of talks.
Big global agreements matter, but so do individual and local actions. Whether through voting, community organising, or reducing your own carbon footprint, every contribution helps shape a cleaner future.
