Divisions Strain COP30 as Climate Deal Reached but Ambition Falls Short

Divisions Strain COP30 as Climate Deal Reached but Ambition Falls Short
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The world is not yet winning the fight against climate change but remains engaged in it, the UN climate chief said after a contentious COP30 summit in Belém reached a hard-fought agreement, The Guardian reported. Despite fears of collapse amid global political tensions, delegates managed to deliver a final deal, though major goals — including a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels and a concrete plan to end deforestation — were not achieved due to strong opposition from several countries, including Saudi Arabia.

UN climate chief Simon Stiell acknowledged that negotiations unfolded in “stormy political waters,” highlighting how geopolitical rifts, denial, and division repeatedly undermined cooperation. Still, he emphasized that multilateral climate action “is alive,” noting that 194 countries held together despite the absence of U.S. high-level participation. Stiell pointed to a key section of the final text affirming that a global shift toward low-emission, climate-resilient development is “irreversible,” describing it as a significant political and market signal.

Talks extended overnight as delegates struggled to overcome deep disagreements. The final package included commitments to triple adaptation finance, establish a just transition mechanism, and formally recognize Indigenous land rights and knowledge as essential climate solutions. Ethiopia was selected to host COP32.

However, efforts to launch formal plans to depart from fossil fuels and halt deforestation were pushed outside the UN process to voluntary coalitions, weakening their political force. Environmental organizations said the summit ended with limited progress compared to what science requires. The UN secretary-general warned that the gap between global action and climate needs remains “dangerously wide,” while experts said the agreement reflects incremental rather than transformative change.

Some activists welcomed the fact that the conference did not collapse, noting that such an outcome would have dealt a heavy blow to global climate cooperation. Yet frustration grew over delayed adaptation finance timelines and limited participation of Indigenous representatives despite Brazil branding this the “Indigenous COP.” Analysts said the outcome underscored the political difficulty of securing language on fossil fuels but expressed hope that focusing on the economic benefits of renewable energy could drive stronger results ahead of COP31.