The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) was held in Belem, Brazil, at the end of November. This year’s event was particularly momentous, as it took place ten years after the adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement in 2015. This year’s conference served as a platform for countries to evaluate their commitments to climate action and discuss future strategies for energy transition. While COP30 showcased some progress, it highlighted persistent challenges in achieving the ambitious climate goals set during previous summits.
At COP30, countries had real conversations on how to fulfill their pledges to phase out coal-fired power. They’ve highlighted the need to increase investments in renewable energy. South Korea and Bahrain have since made their membership of the Powering Past Coal Alliance official. This commitment is no doubt a huge step towards completing the coal transition, as South Korea currently operates the seventh-largest coal fleet in the world. Renewables, grids, and storage The Utilities for Net Zero Alliance has dramatically increased its renewables investment target. They updated their annual targets to $148 billion per year, a nearly 27% increase from their original request at COP29.
Yet for all this progress, COP30 was still a heady brew of morphed ambitions and mood-inverting policy logjam. The request for explicit language on fossil fuel phase-out became one of the thorniest sticking points. While over 80 countries expressed support for a fossil-fuel phase-out roadmap, many governments remained opposed to an international agreement on such measures. This conflict revealed not only the challenges within global climate negotiations but the differences in willingness to act between countries.
Progress on Renewable Energy Commitments
Yet COP30 made strong commitments to bolster storage capabilities and grid infrastructure. This endeavor directly advances the energy storage and grids pledge made at COP29. This initiative aims to achieve 1.5 terawatts (TW) of global energy storage, double grid investment, and add 25 million kilometers of grid infrastructure by 2030. WRI’s Global Grid Catalyst is putting up $7 million to accelerate new grid and storage projects. At the same time, the Green Grids Initiative has mobilized a powerful coalition of stakeholders to launch a roadmap to accelerate and sharpen the expansion of interregional and national power grids.
These types of financial commitments are an indispensable part of the international community’s drive to stop climate change. Developing countries require major assistance to transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. Bill Hare underlined that if we are to realise clean energy goals, there needs to be far greater fiscal assistance for developing nations. This support is an important step in the global transition from dependence on fossil fuels.
“All of the decisions should contribute to better environments for grid financing in developing countries.” – Soenke Kreft
This was the context for the fierce debate over fossil fuel phase-out, which overshadowed COP30 negotiations. There’s no question that many countries across the world understand the urgent, imperative need to transition away from fossil fuels. Many other governments seem hesitant to commit to a global deal. Other countries pointed to their existing dependence on fossil generation as an excuse not to commit to specific phase-out deadlines. Some of them claim to be all-in on their clean energy transitions. They argue that these transitions would be better made at the national level.
“Achieving clean energy goals – including the tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency goals of the COP28 Global Stocktake – will require scaled-up financial support for many poorer countries as a critical first step in the global transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.” – Bill Hare
Divided Opinions on Fossil Fuel Phase-Out
Romain Ioualalen was particularly clear on the failure of coordinated policy and investment that is holding all of us back.
He reiterated the importance of having more international spaces to have conversations on sequencing and scheduling of fossil-fuel phase-out timelines without stigmatization.
“Rather than a concrete path forward on an equitable fossil fuel phase-out and rich countries paying their fair share for climate action and impacts, we are still deep in the woods.” – Romain Ioualalen
Together these discussions would likely reveal the gaps in support that need to be filled, as well as help overcome international roadblocks.
“We need more forums where countries can openly discuss how to sequence and schedule fossil-fuel phase-out timelines.” – Romain Ioualalen
Richard Black emphasized the legal necessity of COP agreements over national policy shifts.
The gap in national priorities highlights the challenges that need to be overcome to achieve agreement on a global coordinated plan of action.
“The decisions of governments and regulators are legally binding within the country concerned, whereas COP agreements in general are not.” – Richard Black
As COP30 came to an end, stakeholders looked back on a conference defined by both successes and failures. It wasn’t all doom and gloom—there were wins, notably including major commitments to renewable energy investments and infrastructure development. Skepticism remained about the speed of reform. Yet Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, admitted that geopolitical pressures have moved climate commitments to the bottom of the list for many countries.
Mixed Outcomes and Future Directions
Each country is creating their own unique journey to energy transition. The call for a just and well-resourced end to fossil fuels is gaining momentum.
“Overall, we are not moving as fast as science tells us we need to be, but I think given wider geopolitical situations, which have pushed climate commitments down on priorities, and additional roadblocks like the perceived financial risks of investing in developing nations’ infrastructure, these [COP30 decisions] were as ambitious as we could realistically hope for while still providing hooks to strengthen ambition over time.” – Bill Hare
There was plenty of good news to be found at COP30, including large-scale commitments on renewable energy and major infrastructure pipeline announcements. It exposed deep rifts over fossil fuel policies. Nations have an enormous opportunity. To do that, they need to overcome hurdles and create a unified national plan that lives up to scientific calls for urgent action on climate.
“Calls are growing for a fair and funded fossil fuel phase-out, a global transition to clean energy, and that is not going to stop.” – Romain Ioualalen
Ultimately, while COP30 demonstrated some advancements in renewable energy commitments and infrastructure plans, it also exposed deep-rooted divisions regarding fossil fuel policies. The challenge remains for nations to transcend these barriers and create a cohesive strategy that aligns with scientific recommendations for climate action.