Ten years on from Paris: COP30 must translate ambition into delivery

Ten Years On from Paris: COP30 Must Translate Ambition into Delivery

This year’s Conference of the Parties (COP30) takes place from November 10-21 in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil. The focus is sharply on implementation, adaptation, and showing real progress, with nature and deforestation playing significant roles in the climate negotiations.

Geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts shape the discussions at the conference, even as the urgency to address worsening climate impacts grows. The central themes include raising ambition on national climate commitments, climate finance, adaptation efforts, and nature-based solutions.

The call is clear: ambition must be converted into tangible outcomes. The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) emphasizes the need for practical, decisive policy frameworks to unlock climate investments at the scale required to manage systemic climate-related financial risks.

Private Sector Engagement Ahead of COP30

In the week leading up to the conference, financial institutions and business leaders met in São Paulo to advance private sector solutions for financing the transition to a low-carbon economy. This included an IIGCC member-only dinner focused on unlocking investment opportunities.

Addressing the NDC Ambition Gap

Countries were expected to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2025. This milestone presents a key opportunity to make these commitments more ambitious, practical, and attractive to investors.

"We echo the call to translate ambition into tangible delivery."

Overall, COP30 aims to move beyond promises and foster effective climate action that matches the urgency of the global climate crisis.

Author's summary: COP30 in Brazil focuses on turning climate ambition into concrete actions, emphasizing finance, adaptation, and nature to meet urgent global challenges.

The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change — 2025-11-06