December 10, 2025
The COP presidency promised action. The implication was that this conference would be about ‘how’, not ‘what’; we would see no more vague ambitions, compromised progress, or meaningless resolutions. Instead, this was to be ‘The COP of Truth’, which would reach consensus on action, and draw clear roadmaps towards decarbonisation.
Weary observers decided to believe that when they saw it. Safe to say, they did not see it.
Here are five observations from COP30 in Brazil, and what they mean for the conference, the climate, and the future of decarbonisation.
Old year’s resolution: $1.3 trillion in funding
COP29 decided that there should be $1.3 trillion per year for climate financing to developing countries. COP30 only managed to ‘reaffirm’ that goal (‘Global Mutirão: Uniting humanity in a global mobilization against climate change’ paragraph 47).
Among the many names that the host nation gave this conference was the ‘implementation’ COP. That adds extra irony to the fact that there is no clear framework or plan for that finance goal.
There was no US delegation at COP30
As expected, the US government was not represented at COP. Climate-sceptic President Trump declined to send a delegation, so the world’s biggest historical carbon emitter did not contribute to the process or the negations.
That makes a second year in which the US had no meaningful role, since the COP29 delegation was from a ‘lame duck’ administration who could not count on its successor to abide by any promises that it made.
China was quiet: was that good or bad?
The Chinese delegation did not feel the need to throw its weight around, and was present without rocking the boat.
The pessimistic reading is that China does not see COP as a threat, despite being the world’s current biggest polluter. If it doesn’t feel the need to protect its interests at the conference, then that confirms how toothless COP really is.
The optimistic view is that China was quiet because its emerging interests are compatible with decarbonisation. Its $50bn investment in solar PV supply capacity means solar power is a growth area for Chinese export trade, and a move away from fossil fuel is in its interest.
No new fossil fuel reduction promises
Oil producing countries were less reserved. At the negotiating table, they put up determined resistance against new decarbonisation imperatives, and succeeded in preventing the inclusion of any further commitments to the transition away from fossil fuels.
The move from fossil fuels is arguably the fundamental purpose of COP, and failure to develop that goal will further call into question how fit for purpose the conference is (or ever was).
COP resolutions about COP resolutions: Efforts at reforming the conference
There were some suggestions that COP30 could introduce some reforms to COP events, to make them less sprawling and complex. Suggestions included capping the size of delegations so that larger countries do not have disproportionate power and influence, and limiting the number of new issues that can be added to the agenda.
As it happened, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) only went so far as to invite participants to ‘pursue efficiency in the consideration of matters under agenda items at sessions of the governing and subsidiary bodies, while respecting the Party-driven nature of the UNFCCC process and the draft rules of procedure being applied.’
Since that lacks anything specific or mandatory, it is safe to assume that no reform is happening.
What does COP30 mean for your business?
Once again, nothing has really changed as a result of COP. The UK’s decarbonisation goal of 2050 still stands, and the pressure is mounting. Businesses have a decisive role to play in that target, despite the lack of government support for transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Nevertheless, there is commercial and ethical pressure on organisations to move towards sustainable heat and power. TO make sense of the systems and technologies that are best suited for your premises, read our guide to green business energy.
GUIDE | Green Energy For Businesses
If you would like expert help on the practicalities of your net zero transition, contact Innasol on 01621 892613. Our nationwide network of fully trained and accredited renewable energy experts is on hand to offer no-obligation guidance on your business’s decarbonisation.
