The Cop30, held in Belém, emphasized being a conference for cities but recorded no advances in the urban agenda in formal decisions. Despite intense mobilizations by subnational networks and entities like UN-Habitat, cities were excluded from central texts. This gap reflects inertia in the multilateral climate system.
The Cop30 in Belém ended without formal commitments on urbanization, despite nearly 60% of the world's population living in cities that concentrate greenhouse gas emissions, vulnerabilities, and climate solutions. The Brazilian government and conference presidency promoted the slogan of "Cop for cities," supported by networks like ICLEI, C40 Cities, GCoM, CGLU, and FMDV, which mobilized mayors, governors, and civil society throughout 2025.
The LGMA coordinated a letter to the UN Secretary-General to integrate climate and urban agendas. The Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro, sponsored by Bloomberg philanthropy, highlighted the need for implementation in cities. Brazilian governors delivered a letter to the conference president and Lula, warning that excluding urban and subnational agendas would be an adverse signal. The Higher Education Network of Networks, co-led by Cambridge and Toronto, stated there is no implementation without cities. UN-Habitat linked climate science and urban policies, while CitiesIPCC led the IPCC to approve a report on cities and climate for 2027.
The "Belém package," including the Mutirão Decision, just transition, finance, loss and damage, did not mention multilevel governance or urban localization of NDCs. Cities appeared only in generic preambles and voluntary actions. Ministers acknowledged that most emissions come from cities and that NDCs depend on municipal levels, but the congested agenda prevented progress. The UNFCCC system, with rigid mandates, treats cities as object, not normative subject.
Despite the failure, mobilizations expose the mismatch between local actions and global norms. Suggestions include urban components in NDCs, reform of multilateral banks to fund subnationals (which receive less than 15% of funds), and national mandates for regulatory updates. In São Paulo, 440 km² of roofs can generate terawatt-hours of energy or food. The Billings reservoir, 100 km², could host floating solar. Lula proposed a Climate Council in the UN reform to articulate goals, finance, and territories.