Brazilian diplomat stresses the need for action beyond talks, pushing for greater involvement of civil society and Indigenous groups

The president of the upcoming COP30 summit, Brazilian diplomat Andre Correa do Lago, has called for a shift in the way climate negotiations are conducted, acknowledging the limits of decades of UN climate talks. As the world prepares for the COP30 summit in November in the Amazon city of Belem, Correa do Lago highlighted the need for more than just agreements and negotiations, urging leaders to focus on implementing the actions they’ve already agreed upon.

In a letter released on Monday, Correa do Lago outlined his vision for the summit, emphasising the need for climate negotiators to be self-critical and confront the perception that years of negotiations have yielded only meager results. “The Paris Agreement is working, but there is much more to do,” he said, stressing the importance of taking real-world action rather than just engaging in prolonged negotiations.

While acknowledging the role of the UNFCCC as the best existing platform for climate negotiations, he admitted that the body lacks enforcement power over the entities meant to carry out its recommendations. The challenges of climate change action have been further exacerbated by global setbacks, including the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under former President Donald Trump, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has shifted focus and resources away from climate solutions to defense spending.

To address these challenges, Correa do Lago urged the international community to leverage other platforms, such as the G20 and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings, to push for meaningful action on global warming. Brazil also aims to increase the participation of civil society groups and Indigenous communities in the climate conversation, ensuring that diverse perspectives are included in shaping future climate policies.

In addition, Correa do Lago declared plans to convene two international meetings with world leaders ahead of COP30 to discuss countries’ pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the February deadline for new pledges, only 13 countries had submitted their contributions.

As COP30 approaches, Correa do Lago’s call for a new approach to climate diplomacy is a reminder that the time for talk is running out – it is now time for the world to act.