Climate finance, trade measures and 1.5°C ambition loom over COP30 talks

Though not part of the official UN Climate Meeting (COP30) Summit agenda, certain themes may linger on for the next two weeks, and eventually find themselves in the cover decision from Brazil's Belem.

- Jayashree Nandi

These include the status of the Paris Agreement's lower limit - the 1.5 degrees Celsius (°C) goal, article 9.1-which mandates that developed countries provide financial resources to assist developing countries, biannual transparency reports on what climate action has been taken and the contentious issue of unilateral trade measures.

This is the first time the UN has acknowledged that an overshoot of the 1.5°C goal is now inevitable. But for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), this is a red line for survival. AOSIS pushed an agenda item on “Responding to the NDC Synthesis Report and Addressing the 15°C Ambition and Implementa-

tion Gap”. The EU, Umbrella group led by Australia, Switzerland on behalf of Environment Integrity Group are insisting on discussion on the breach of L5°C goal and inadequate NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions).