The underlying driver of COP30

As COP30 gets underway in Belém, Brazil, I’m struck by a sense of urgency unlike any previous summit. The focus, set clearly by the Brazilian hosts, is on implementation, turning long-standing commitments into tangible action. It’s a well-needed framing for the summit taking place at a time when the urgency of climate impacts is impossible to ignore. 

One of the moments that stood out so far was the launch of the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), which will reward countries that protect their tropical forests. The TFFF Launch Declaration has now been endorsed by 53 nations, including 34 tropical forest countries representing over 90% of tropical forests in developing nations.  

Financially, the early pledges are significant. Norway has announced a NOK 30 billion (USD 3 billion) contribution over the next decade, with Brazil and Indonesia each confirming USD 1 billion, and France signalling a potential commitment of up to €500 million, subject to further discussions. Altogether, more than USD 5.5 billion has been pledged so far.  

What excites me about TFFF is the recognition that forests’ value lies not in what can be extracted from them, but in the climate stability and biodiversity they sustain. We know that finance alone won’t be enough. Success will depend on how well initiatives like TFFF integrate with national policies and local realities, something we continue to learn from our own work on the ground. 

Beyond forests, I’ve also been struck by how much agriculture has entered the conversation this year. In the pavilions and side events, where it’s almost as hot inside as it is outside in the Amazonian air, I keep hearing the same message: we can’t reach the Paris goals without transforming how we produce food. As FAO put it plainly: Only about four percent of climate finance currently reaches the sectors that feed the world: crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry. Agriculture isn’t just part of the problem; it’s one of our greatest opportunities for solutions. 

Climate and social goals

I’m also pleased there’s a growing recognition that climate and social issues are inseparable. The World Economic Forum recently suggested that a nature-positive economy could unlock 395 million jobs and over USD 10 trillion in business opportunities by 2030, not simply by preserving ecosystems, but by re-imagining how economies function around them  

This is an important development, as, at IDH, we’ve seen that aligning climate and social goals is practical, and it builds stronger, more resilient markets. 

Across our partnerships, we’ve seen that when businesses work with governments and civil society to advance wages, inclusive growth and climate resilience, they not only improve lives but also build stronger, more stable markets. Climate action that listens to social realities can create systems that are truly resilient and fair. 

Facing the truth

As COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago called it, this should be the ‘COP of Truth’, one that faces both the urgency of climate impacts and the social disruptions that accompany transition. 

As debates continue in Belém, this integrated view, connecting environmental stewardship with social and economic development, may prove to be COP30’s quiet undercurrent.