A COP of mixed outcomes but clearer signals
With COP30 now concluded in Belém, the global conversation on climate action enters a new phase, one defined less by headline announcements and more by the hard work of implementation.
For IDH, attending COP30 was an opportunity to listen closely, strengthen partnerships, and help ensure that climate ambition remains connected to the realities of producers, communities and supply chains on the ground.
The outcomes in Belém revealed both movement and persistent gaps. Updated NDCs were submitted by over a hundred countries, yet collectively they point to emissions reductions far below what is needed to hold global warming to 1.5°C. Momentum behind a transition away from fossil fuels grew significantly, though efforts to formalise a global roadmap were blocked.
Forests and the people protecting them received welcome attention. New commitments, including substantial seed capital for the Tropical Forest Forever Facility and expanded recognition of indigenous territories, demonstrated genuine progress. However, the absence of a clear global roadmap to end deforestation underscored how far we still have to go.
Adaptation finance emerged as another bright spot, with efforts to triple funding by 2035 reinforcing the need to protect the most vulnerable landscapes and communities as climate impacts intensify.
Yet agriculture and food systems, despite their centrality to climate and nature, received minimal attention in the final COP text. Outside the negotiations, however, significant coalitions formed around resilient agriculture and investments in nature-positive production models, including work that IDH is piloting with partners in Brazil.
Our purpose in attending COP30 was to contribute to conversations on climate finance, cattle sector transformation and resilient food systems, and to listen to those who share our commitment to systemic change.
Across dozens of discussions with private sector partners, governments and local organisations, one theme was constant: climate solutions must work for people and production.
The strong presence and leadership of indigenous people and communities at COP30 was particularly meaningful. Their voices, experience and stewardship are essential if we are to protect forests and build a new model of prosperity rooted in restoration rather than deforestation.
For the private sector, COP30 offered a clear message: the transition to climate-resilient and deforestation-free supply chains is accelerating, and companies that invest early in traceability, inclusive sourcing and nature-based solutions will be better positioned for the future.
We saw growing recognition that sustainable production is a prerequisite for long-term supply security and economic stability. Many of the most promising advances came not from the formal negotiations but from cross-sector coalitions and ‘coalitions of the willing’ working to unlock finance, scale regenerative agriculture, and reward those who protect and restore landscapes.
COP30 did not resolve the global emissions gap, nor did it provide all the tools needed for a just transition. But it strengthened the foundations for collaboration and placed renewed emphasis on implementation.