COP30 showed that the climate fight is still on

COP30, which concluded in Brazil on Saturday, was never about what to do to address the climate threat — that is already known.

- Sumant Sinha

It was about how to make it happen, about turning promises into progress amid wars, trade chaos, and rising self-interest of nations.

There are six truths of climate action today.

Momentum has survived the US exit from Paris Agreement: The US under President Donald Trump walked away from the landmark climate accord and on doing anything on climate. Yet climate action didn’t collapse. Leaders showed up, commitments held, and Brazil's presidency kept the show on the road. Momentum matters on global issues such as climate — it drives investment and signals resilience.

Transition to clean energy lags, but other long-ignored climate priorities get attention: A total of 115 nations have already filed Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Commitments to do more have increased on the back of strong deployment of renewables so far. We're headed for a doubling of renewables by 2030, not the tripling agreed two years ago at COP28. There's a bright spot here: $6 billion has been committed for conserving forests and oceans. These natural sinks absorb half our emissions and oceans swallow 90% of excess heat.