Shining a light on science at COP30

November 29, 2025

Shining a light on science at COP30

Union of Concerned Scientists

From:action@ucs.org

To:Mark M Giese

Sat, Nov 29 2025 at 10:03 AM

Dear Mark M,

The annual UN climate talks, known as COP30, just concluded in Belém, Brazil last week. These COPs are an important forum for world leaders to gather annually to advance action to address the global climate crisis, as they have committed to under international climate agreements. The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which has attended these talks since 1992, sent a small team of staff to Belém to participate and observe the proceedings.

This year, which marks the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, took place against the backdrop of sobering scientific news that the world is on the verge of breaching 1.5°C of global warming. And, for the first time ever the US government, historically a major player, did not send any representatives to Brazil. Nevertheless 190+ countries, together with representatives of subnational governments, businesses, Indigenous people, and nongovernmental organizations, were on the ground, committed to forging ahead on climate progress.

We wanted to share with you some of the important thoughts from our team on why COP30 matters, and some important observations you can use in your own advocacy for climate justice.

Key Priorities at COP30 for UCS (and the World):

UCS participates in many aspects of COP, most centrally to push for ambitious outcomes in the climate negotiations. As Rachel Cleetus said so succinctly in her blog post, "My colleagues and I will be on the ground in Belém, shining a light on the latest science and what it means for decisionmakers, people, and the planet as we fight for climate justice alongside civil society representatives from Brazil and across the world." UCS staff also participate in expert panels, speak with the press, and work together with a large international coalition of climate justice advocates.
Key issues at the table at this COP included addressing the shortfall in countries' emission reduction commitments, which collectively fall well short of the Paris Agreement goals; seeking a robust outcome on climate adaptation, an issue made more urgent by dire climate impacts already unfolding and most acutely harming the lowest income nations; and scaling up climate finance to support lower-income countries transition to clean energy and adapt to climate change. Given its location in Brazil, actions to protect forests and biodiversity were also of central importance.
Global climate negotiations are complex and this COP took place in the context of a shifting world order and challenging geopolitics, including the increasing rise of authoritarianism. Long-standing obstruction and delay tactics from fossil fuel interests are also an threat at COPs and within countries, as evidenced by the pro-fossil fuel agenda being boosted by the Trump administration. As with any multilateral process, slowdowns or disagreements are not uncommon but it's important to watch out for deliberate efforts to stall, dilute, or redirect ambition, behaviors called "climate obstruction." Transparency, persistence, and collaboration are essential to countering tactics that slow or weaken global climate progress. It's also crucial to uphold information integrity and fend off climate disinformation.

What Are Some Major Takeaways:

The final outcome at COP30 fell well short of what people across the world need, as the final UCS statement from Belém points out. Despite a strong push from nearly 90 countries, an agreement on a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels did not make it into the final text. However, the Brazilian COP Presidency did commit to initiating a high-level science-based, inclusive process for developing two roadmaps, one on addressing tropical deforestation and one on a just, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels. As well, Colombia announced a Declaration on a fossil fuel phaseout, supported by many countries, and will be cohosting a conference in April with the Netherlands to advance this goal. Unfortunately, funding for adaptation in lower-income countries again got short shrift, even as many of them are enduring repeated blows from climate change-fueled extremes like the back-to-back typhoons that struck the Philippines and Hurricane Melissa that hit Caribbean nations just before COP30.
Being part of these important climate talks and observing climate negotiations on a world-level stage, our team at COP30 returned sharing a fresh reminder that alleviating global poverty and improving people's lives is directly and intrinsically connected to addressing climate change. Solutions to all these grave and pressing challenges can and should be aligned.
While the Trump administration did not send an official delegation to COP30, the United States still had a strong presence on the ground from subnational governments, businesses and civil society representatives. It was incredibly heartening to see California Governor Newsom, New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham, US Senator Whitehouse, and many more representatives from US states, cities, Tribal nations, educational institutions, and businesses at COP30, showing the world that many people in the United States are still very committed to climate action. We all know that it is in our best interests embrace a climate-resilient clean energy economy. So many are fighting back against the Trump administration's attacks on clean energy and climate progress and its pro-fossil fuel agenda, including its efforts to roll back the science-based Endangerment Finding.
"COP30 was supposed to be the COP of truth and implementation. Unless nations reckon with the ugly truths revealed here, there will be major repercussions for multilateral climate agreements and more importantly, for the lives of communities who are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. People around the world deserve far more from their leaders to meaningfully confront the existential threats brought forth by the climate crisis and advance a thriving, fair clean energy economy. The fight for climate justice does not end here because the fight cannot end here—the stakes are simply too high."

So as we move into the final month of 2025 it's never been more important to understand what’s at stake. As UCS president and CEO Gretchen Goldman shared, "My colleagues and I do this work because we must. We are motivated by the dire consequences we know are ahead for frontline communities. We are driven by the responsibility we have for all children's present and future. We know what a better world could look like, free from the influence of Big Oil and its endless greed, and with principled leadership who put our health and safety ahead of special interests. Scientists have been raising the alarm on the dire consequences of burning fossil fuels for decades. Our coalition has only grown and become more powerful and determined. Why would we stop now?"

I encourage you to catch up on the happenings at COP30 from the UCS staff who were there by reading more from their blog posts.

Sincerely,

Margo Scott Dunn
Associate Director for Digital Engagement
Union of Concerned Scientists