The pace quickens at COP 30 (November 18)

• By: AWMA
• On: 11/20/2025 16:39:28
• In: COP 30
• Comments: 0

The pace continues to pick up at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, on November 10-21, 2025. Time is short.

Here are some notes from today (Tuesday, November 18) based on observations, conversations with knowledgeable sources, or trusted news services. There were some notable shifts and updates over the last day at COP30 in Belém, including changes in country positions and updated negotiation texts:

• The host country, Belém's government of Brazil, has sent a letter urging all Parties to increase their willingness to negotiate and find solutions this week, signaling an intensification of political-pressure for deal-making.  
• Vulnerable and small-island states such as Jamaica, Mauritius and others reiterated their demand that developed countries move from commitments to immediate action—this framing is putting additional pressure on major emitters and finance-provider countries.  
• Some developed-country blocs (e.g., in Europe) are increasingly talking about reforming the COP process itself, voicing that the current consensus-based negotiation model is insufficient to deliver timely action.  
• The interactive tracker of negotiation texts at COP30 shows that the number of substantive agenda items is large (over 120), and that late additions and modifications are still being made—showing active text negotiation.  
• On the topic of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), countries are moving closer to agreeing on a set of indicators, though some groups (e.g., the African Group, Arab Group) are seeking delays or modifications to how adaptation indicators will be tracked and financed.   
• The host's letter points to a push for a “road map” on fossil fuel phase-out as part of the COP outcome, indicating that negotiators may soon shift texts to include stronger language on energy-system transition.  

What are the implications of these developments?

• The fact that Brazil is pushing hard signals a window where countries may need to make concessions if they want to influence the wording of final texts.
• The increasing emphasis by vulnerable states on finance and adaptation means texts will likely have stronger language on those topics—so sticking points will include whether finance is grants vs loans, how much, by when, and how adaptation is measured.
• Reform-talks about the COP process suggest that aside from the substantive outcome texts, there might also be a meta-agreement about how future COPs will operate (which could affect inclusivity, transparency, and the pace of decision-making).
• The late negotiation of indicators (for adaptation) and road-map texts (for fossil fuels) means the final days may be intense and all-night sessions likely.

Stay tuned: Momentum is building! 

Ram Ramanan and Merlyn Hough, as official A&WMA observers of COP30, will be communicating back to the A&WMA members in real time through a blog that will be available to all members through the Association website. Posts from COP30 and previous COPs can be found on the A&WMA blog page at: https://www.awma.org/blog_home.asp?Category=12