The 30th edition of the UN climate negotiations, also known as Cop30, is underway in Belém, Brazil. As the world grapples with the existential threat of climate change, many are questioning whether this pivotal moment can deliver on its promise to address the crisis.
With thousands of diplomats, activists, journalists, and lobbyists gathered for the talks, hopes were high that this Amazonian Cop would be a turning point in the fight against climate breakdown. However, critics say that instead of making material progress towards climate goals, Cop30 risks repeating the disappointments of previous years.
The main problem, according to Patrick Galey, head of fossil fuel investigations at Global Witness, is the lack of urgency. This sentiment was echoed by Albert Norström, an associate professor at Stockholm Resilience Centre, who stated that the COP process has delivered what it was designed for – diplomacy and consensus – but failed to deliver ambitious action.
The scale of lobbying operations carried out by fossil fuel companies has become increasingly clear, with nearly 2,500 lobbyists attending Cop28 in Dubai. This influx of corporate interests has been accused of diluting ambition, slowing progress, and undermining trust.
Critics argue that the COP process is mired in misinformation and bad faith actors, with powerful nations using their influence to shape the agenda to suit their own interests. Asad Rehman, chief executive of Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, pointed out that developed countries have an overwhelming advantage, with teams working 365 days a year on climate negotiations.
In contrast, developing countries are often left with limited time and resources, struggling to engage in the process. This power imbalance is perpetuated by the very structure of the COP, which is designed to be consensus-driven but often favors larger nations.
The consequences of this imbalance have been starkly illustrated by last year's Cop, where less-developed countries described the outcome as a "staggering betrayal." The fact that powerful nations can dictate the agenda while smaller ones are left fighting for scraps is a far cry from the spirit of cooperation and solidarity that the COP process was meant to represent.
As the climate crisis deepens, it's clear that something needs to change. Instead of continuing down the same path of incremental delay, Cop30 must deliver on its promise to secure a livable future for all. If not, the consequences will be catastrophic.
With thousands of diplomats, activists, journalists, and lobbyists gathered for the talks, hopes were high that this Amazonian Cop would be a turning point in the fight against climate breakdown. However, critics say that instead of making material progress towards climate goals, Cop30 risks repeating the disappointments of previous years.
The main problem, according to Patrick Galey, head of fossil fuel investigations at Global Witness, is the lack of urgency. This sentiment was echoed by Albert Norström, an associate professor at Stockholm Resilience Centre, who stated that the COP process has delivered what it was designed for – diplomacy and consensus – but failed to deliver ambitious action.
The scale of lobbying operations carried out by fossil fuel companies has become increasingly clear, with nearly 2,500 lobbyists attending Cop28 in Dubai. This influx of corporate interests has been accused of diluting ambition, slowing progress, and undermining trust.
Critics argue that the COP process is mired in misinformation and bad faith actors, with powerful nations using their influence to shape the agenda to suit their own interests. Asad Rehman, chief executive of Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, pointed out that developed countries have an overwhelming advantage, with teams working 365 days a year on climate negotiations.
In contrast, developing countries are often left with limited time and resources, struggling to engage in the process. This power imbalance is perpetuated by the very structure of the COP, which is designed to be consensus-driven but often favors larger nations.
The consequences of this imbalance have been starkly illustrated by last year's Cop, where less-developed countries described the outcome as a "staggering betrayal." The fact that powerful nations can dictate the agenda while smaller ones are left fighting for scraps is a far cry from the spirit of cooperation and solidarity that the COP process was meant to represent.
As the climate crisis deepens, it's clear that something needs to change. Instead of continuing down the same path of incremental delay, Cop30 must deliver on its promise to secure a livable future for all. If not, the consequences will be catastrophic.
come on guys! cop30 is like the last chance saloon for climate action 
i mean we've been hearing the same thing since cop25 and still no major progress 
fossil fuel companies are basically buying their way into these talks 
with 2500 lobbyists attending it's no wonder they're talking up a storm 
but what about the developing countries who can't even get a seat at the table? 
asad rehman is right on the money 
we need to level the playing field and prioritize solidarity over corporate interests 
if not cop30 will be another cop-out for the climate crisis 
but we're still not getting anywhere fast... I mean, I get it, consensus is key and all that, but at what cost? 
We need some real action here! It's frustrating to see all these big corporations coming in with their fancy lobbyists and think tanks trying to water down the language on climate change 
. And don't even get me started on the power imbalance between developed and developing countries - it's just not fair. 
. It's time to think outside the box (or in this case, the COP framework 
). Maybe it's time to rethink the whole system and try something new? 
cop30 has such a big deal but it feels like they're just going through the motions again... like what's the point of even trying if we're not gonna make any real changes? 
it's crazy to me how much influence fossil fuel companies have over these talks and how that's holding everything back. I feel for the smaller countries who are always stuck on the sidelines, it's just not fair 
but then again, isn't that just a privileged perspective coming from people who live in developed countries and don't have to deal with the harsh realities of climate change in their own backyards? 
. And don't even get me started on the power imbalance between rich and poor countries... it's just not fair that the bigger nations get to dictate the agenda while everyone else is fighting for scraps 
.
. And what's with the lobbying ops? It feels like everyone's more interested in lining their own pockets than saving the planet 
. Let's stop playing nice and start taking some real steps towards a sustainable future... or else 
.
. We need to see some real commitment from world leaders to tackle this existential threat head-on, or else we're all in trouble 
.
lobbying by fossil fuel companies is basically just buying influence and that's so not cool 
can't we just make some concrete changes here? 
... all these powerful nations just sitting around negotiating while smaller ones are burning their own forests and whatnot 
... it's so unfair that developed countries get to push for their own interests and developing countries are left fighting for scraps 
... cop30 had better bring the heat or else
asad rehman's words hit really hard the power imbalance is real 
cop process is all about diplomacy and consensus but where's the action? 
anyway, can't we just make fossil fuel companies pay for everything instead of having them lobby their way into getting away with it? 
but it's like no one's listening 
. all these fossil fuel companies showing up with their lobbying teams 
but not at the expense of our planet's future 
. someone needs to shake things up and hold everyone accountable 
.
! I mean, I've been following this stuff for years and it's always the same story – a bunch of rich countries trying to water down the goals while the developing nations are left to deal with the consequences 
. It's like they're playing a game of whack-a-mole, where every time progress is made, someone new comes along and knocks it back down 
. I mean, I know big oil has a lot of influence, but come on 
. I mean, have you seen those fossil fuel companies lobbying? It's like they own the place 
.
I mean, it's not like these countries are not trying, they are! 