The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP30, is scheduled for November 10 to 21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil, marking a decade since the Paris Agreement. The event arrives amid challenges like U.S. withdrawal from the treaty and ongoing construction issues. Nations, including the Philippines, face pressure to update their climate commitments.
COP30, hosted in Belém, Brazil, represents a critical juncture in global climate action, occurring 10 years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015. This legally binding treaty aims to limit global warming, but progress has been uneven. Earlier this year, the United States, the largest historical emitter, withdrew from the agreement for a second time under President Donald Trump.
The conference follows a significant International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate change obligations. Parties to the Paris Agreement, including the Philippines—which hosts the Loss and Damage Fund Board—are required to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) this year. However, the Philippines has not yet updated its NDCs.
Brazil, as host, has identified key challenges: aligning developed and developing countries' commitments on climate finance, ensuring emission targets align with scientific needs, and addressing socio-economic impacts on vulnerable populations. Logistics in Belém have proven problematic, with construction for facilities, including the Leaders’ Village for heads of state, ongoing as late as October 2025. A September strike by construction workers further delayed work on the hotel for world leaders.
Recent developments include warnings from scientists about crossing climate tipping points ahead of the summit. A 2025 Forest Declaration Assessment report highlights the world falling behind on 2030 deforestation reversal goals, driven by agriculture and fires. Britain’s King Charles III and Prince William voiced support at a “Countdown to COP30” event in London in October.
The Loss and Damage Fund for poorer nations nears $400 million. China, the current top emitter, led announcements of new climate plans in September, though some view its own as underwhelming. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pledged $1 billion to the Tropical Forests Forever Facility in September, hoping for broader commitments at COP30. To aid attendance, the UN increased financial support for low-income countries facing high accommodation costs in Belém.