Key climate meet opens in Brazil

COP30 (Conference of Parties) opens in Brazil's Belem-a city in the Amazon, today [Monday] with high expectations that it will be an important moment for the Global South countries.

- Jayashree Nandi

Brazil, the COP30 host, is holding the meet at Belem.

It will also bea crucial meetas it unlikely to have any official participation from the Trump administration even as observers expect China to take a relatively prominent role in the talks.

‘Adaptation indicators, taking stock of implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCS), the Paris Agreement and NDCs submitted so far for the 2035 period, the Just Transition Work Programme, delivery of climate finance among others may figure in the negotiations.

Observers and negotiators who did not wish to be named warned that there are strong diplomatic headwinds that parties should be wary of. Pressured by the United States, member countries of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), postponed a vote on plan to move the shipping industry away from the use of fossil fuel and become ‘net-zero’ by 2050. “Similar fears are there and there may be pressure on particular parties.

That is why COP30 will be diplomatically a very challenging environment," an observer said.