COP30 in Brazil: Developing Nations Seize Climate Agenda

The 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has just commenced in Belém, Brazil. With the COP presidency now held by a developing country, there is an opportunity for the Global South to shape the climate agenda. The focus is on how nations will translate their climate pledges into concrete action, as rising geopolitical tensions, climate risks, and widening ambition gaps make this year's summit a decisive moment.

Countries are expected to submit their third round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), outlining their global ambition on climate action. To date, 109 countries have already submitted updated NDCs. However, more needs to be done, as the world must invest $6.3-6.7 trillion annually by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement targets, including $2.3-2.5 trillion in emerging and developing economies alone.

The climate crisis has moved beyond numbers and records to actual impact, with extreme weather events causing excessive damage in regions like South Asia. The breaching of the 1.5°C climate threshold underscores the urgency for ambitious NDCs to reclaim the climate narrative. India has championed the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC), emphasizing the need for climate justice, which is also a key theme in Brazil's NDC.