“COP30 will be the first UN climate conference after we surpassed the 1.5ºC global warming limit,” says Ana Toni, who is the Secretary for Climate Change at Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment. “This isn’t just a future problem; it’s happening right now. We know that 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded.”
In a recent interview, Ana Toni shared important insights about the challenges ahead at COP30. “We are already feeling climate change impacts, so we must adapt. At COP30, adaptation needs to be a priority. Just focusing on reducing carbon emissions isn’t enough anymore,” she stated.
The conference, set for November in Belém, will focus on key negotiations, including the implementation of a climate finance agreement made at COP29 in Baku. This agreement aims to create a flow of $1.3 trillion annually for climate finance by 2035, drawing from both public and private sources.
Ana Toni explained that COPs generally revolve around three main themes: negotiation, action agenda, and mobilization. “These pillars are how we’ll engage the private sector and broader society,” she noted. The discussion will also emphasize the legacies of COP30, especially concerning the Amazon and the city of Belém.
So, what will be on the COP30 agenda? Toni highlighted the need for setting specific indicators for adaptation goals, just transition processes, and the roadmap towards the $1.3 trillion climate finance target. She added that addressing Article 2.1c of the Paris Agreement, related to financial flows, will also be essential.
Regarding the finance target, Toni emphasized Brazil’s leadership role during the G20, where climate issues were integral to discussions. “Brazil has laid a foundation that we can build on at COP30, involving 194 countries to create a comprehensive roadmap,” she explained.
Concrete indicators will also play a key role in measuring adaptation efforts. Toni mentioned that we should focus on specific areas like food security and health to track progress effectively. For example, indicators might include the availability of food, the number of people served, and the calories available per person.
COP30 is expected to be a historic event. “This is the first conference after exceeding the critical 1.5ºC warming threshold. Climate change is not a future concern; it’s our reality,” Toni stressed. Both adaptation and mitigation strategies are vital; we can’t put one before the other anymore.
While some think COP30 will emphasize countries’ climate commitments, Toni clarified that it won’t focus solely on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) or forests. Instead, she emphasized that NDCs are set at the national level and reviewed during the conference to gauge progress toward the 1.5ºC goal. “Robust NDCs are important, but they depend on national actions and mobilization,” she said.
Despite the significance of forests in the climate conversation, Toni pointed out that the major part of global emissions comes from energy, not deforestation. “Forests are crucial in fighting climate change, but we need to focus on their preservation and the broader role they play in biodiversity,” she added.
When discussing climate finance, Toni acknowledged its historical neglect at COPs. “At COP29 in Baku, financing became a central topic for the first time. While implementations have been slow, it’s vital that we unlock climate finance. Many countries, especially in the Global South, are eager to pursue low-carbon paths, but they lack the necessary funding,” she said. “Unlocking climate finance is essential to support these development goals.”
