Welcome to the C2ES COP30 Dispatch Series: Midweek Summary, sharing regular negotiation updates from Belem.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NEGOTIATIONS
Late on Sunday, November 16, the COP30 Presidency published a summary note attempting to capture the headline substance of consultations carried out during the first week of the COP on the most contentious issues among Parties, namely: the implementation of Article 9, paragraph 1 of the Paris Agreement on finance; responding to the synthesis report on nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and addressing the 1.5°C ambition and implementation gap; promoting international cooperation and addressing the concerns with climate change related trade-restrictive unilateral measures; and the synthesis of biennial transparency reports. While only in bullet point format, rather than elaborated text, the summary note effectively defines the boundaries for any consensus political outcome that may emerge from COP30. Presidency consultations on the basis of the summary note will continue in the second week of the COP at ministerial level. There remains much work to be done to bridge deeply held divisions between Parties.
The end of the first week of COP30 marks an important and delicate transition point from the technical phase of the negotiations to the political phase, with ministers from around the world arriving in Belém to resolve outstanding issues in the second week. This next phase will also see the COP30 Presidency take a more active role in guiding Parties towards agreement.
While Saturday, November 15 saw the successful closure of the bulk of technical negotiations at COP30, in addition to matters covered by the Presidency consultations, key issues that remain to be resolved in the second week include:
- the Global Goal on Adaptation indicators package
- the Just Transition Work Programme
- matters relating to the global stocktake
- UAE Dialogue on the global stocktake
- the mitigation work programme
- Article 2.1(c) on finance
- a new Gender Action Plan
- the progress assessment on national adaptation plans
The COP30 President announced that technical level negotiations in some of these areas will continue until the end of Tuesday. He has also appointed the following pairs of ministers and senior officials to assist him in reaching agreement among Parties:
- adaptation: Gambia (Rohey John Manjang) and Germany (Jochen Flasbarth)
- finance: Kenya and the United Kingdom
- mitigation: Egypt and Spain
- just transition: Mexico and Poland
- technology: Australia and India
- gender: Chile and Sweden.
Presidency Consultations on NDCs, BTRs, Article 9.1 on finance, and unilateral trade measures
The COP30 Presidency’s summary note, which provides key options in bullet form on the above contentious issues, tries to neutrally frame the foundation for further discussion on how and whether they will be taken up in a broad, political COP30 outcome. The note is several pages long and includes options; but, understandably, at this stage it has attempted to steer away from making judgment calls on matters of contention between Parties.
The summary note follows COP30 Presidency informal consultations in the first week that were clustered around three themes:
- unity in celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Paris Agreement (supporting multilateralism)
- transitioning from negotiation to implementation (Paris Agreement policy cycle in full motion)
- accelerating solidarity, implementation and international cooperation.
The COP30 Presidency focused discussions on substance not process, and as such there is still no clarity on what the form of the outcome from COP30 on issues covered by the summary note will be. This will also likely be a matter of contention in the second week of the COP.
There remains much work to be done to bridge deeply held divisions between Parties on a number of issues. This task will not be made easier by the large number of unresolved mandated negotiating items that will carry over from the first to second week of COP30.
Global Goal on Adaptation
TOP LINE: Parties agreed to continue negotiations on the adoption of indicators under the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and forwarded draft text to be considered in the second week.
IN MORE DETAIL: Experts under the two-year UAE-Belém Work Programme developed and refined a potential set of 100 indicators for consideration and adoption at COP30. Ongoing differences remain on whether the indicators should be adopted at COP30 or postponed to a later session and whether further work is needed after COP30. Several Parties said that they cannot accept the expert group’s current list of indicators in their current form.
Beyond agreeing to the indicators, the GGA draft text includes options for the modalities of the Baku Adaptation Roadmap, which was launched at COP29, and whether a new adaptation finance goal should be agreed, given the COP26 goal of doubling adaptation finance goal from 2019 levels by 2025 will expire this year.
Parties disagree on the modalities for the Baku Adaptation Roadmap. Options include: concluding the Baku Adaptation Roadmap and agreeing a new Belem Vision for Adaptation toward 2030; whether it should bring coherence across the UNFCCC adaptation architecture; or drive action for implementation of the indicators. Parties diverge on whether they should agree to a new adaptation finance goal. Discussions surround where the goal should be (if the new goal should be included in the indicators for the GGA decision); what that goal should be (tripling adaptation finance from 2019 levels to 2030 ($120 billion) or half of the new collective quantified goal for adaptation finance ($150 billion) by 2030); or whether the goal should be considered in the context of the NCQG.
Just Transition Work Programme
TOP LINE: Discussions on the UAE Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) will continue among Parties next week in light of the first iteration of the informal note prepared by co-chairs. The JTWP has allowed Parties to discuss just transition pathways to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. Divergence persists among Parties on the form and function of new institutional arrangements (paragraph 27). Reference to cross-boundary impacts and unilateral trade measures remains a sharply divisive issue.
IN MORE DETAIL: The COP30 Presidency has stated that a decision on the JTWP is a priority for COP30. A decision was expected at COP29, knowing the JTWP will be reviewed in 2026 at COP31. Parties have to agree on options for new institutional arrangements, including: a mechanism to enhance international cooperation, toward a draft for consideration and adoption at COP31; a policy toolbox for translating just transition principles into national strategies; and/or guidance for UNFCCC constituted bodies on how to implement just transition in their work. A reference to “unilateral trade-restrictive climate measures” remains unacceptable for some Parties, hence an option for creating a dedicated space/working group/structured dialogue to discuss climate and trade related matters under the JTWP was introduced (paragraph 12, sub-paragraph x). The informal note now also reflects several additional messages from mandated 2025 dialogues, including: reference to supply chains; critical minerals; sustainable patterns of consumption and production; and circular economy. The note requests the secretariat to map relevant instruments, initiatives and processes under and outside the UNFCCC to support the implementation of the work programme (paragraph 20). Delaying a decision until next year would leave the JTWP with no clarity on what it needs to deliver before its review.
Global Stocktake
TOP LINE: Negotiations on refinements to the second global stocktake again failed to overcome major differences. The draft text reflecting the options for areas of divergence was forwarded to next week for resolution. The COP28 global stocktake decision called for Parties to consider refining the procedural and logistical elements of the overall global stocktake process based on experience from the first global stocktake (the second global stocktake will take place from 2026-2028). Parties have been considering refinements since June 2024.
IN MORE DETAIL: Procedural and logistical elements to be considered include: the timing and coordination of its phases; inputs; outputs; and composition and appointment of its co-facilitators and the High Level Committee. In terms of inputs, a key sticking point has been requesting the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as a critical source of “best available science,” to align its Assessment Report cycle (typically seven–nine years,) with the global stocktake’s five-year cycle. The IPCC has yet to set out its seventh reporting cycle timeline. Other unresolved issues include: the timeline of the second global stocktake; whether the technical and political phases of the global stocktake overlap; and the length of the political phase. If Parties fail to agree to refinements to the global stocktake process at COP30, one likely scenario is that the second global stocktake, which will start at COP31, will be carried out in the same way as the first (according to Decision 19/CMA.1).
TOP LINE: Technical negotiations on the UAE Dialogue on implementing the global stocktake outcomes did not resolve the scope, nature, purpose, or the timeline of the UAE Dialogue. The informal note reflecting options for each of these issues was forwarded to next week for resolution. The global stocktake outcome at COP28 established a dialogue on implementing the global stocktake outcomes, which was due to be operationalized at COP29.
IN MORE DETAIL: While the decision paragraphs establishing the Dialogue are general, they are situated within the finance section of the COP28 decision, resulting in deep divergence between Parties as to what the focus of the Dialogue should be. While some Parties insist that the Dialogue addresses more than the provision of means of implementation (finance, technology transfer, and capacity building) to developing countries for the implementation of their NDCs, others fear that this approach would duplicate the global stocktake or create a “mini-GST,” changing the Paris ambition cycle—especially if it overlaps with the start of the second global stocktake. If adopted at COP30, the UAE Dialogue will start one year behind schedule. If it is not adopted, it is not clear whether and how usefully it can inform the second global stocktake, which will start at COP31.
TOP LINE: Parties’ have been considering reports for 2024 and 2025 on the annual global stocktake dialogue (GST NDC Dialogue) with a view to adopting a decision on them at COP30. They reflected on a new informal note (published 15 November) but did not find consensus on either the options contained therein or on the way forward. The co-facilitators will: report the lack of progress to the Presidency; convey the status of the informal note; request legal advice clarifying the mandate of the GST NDC Dialogue (requested by several Parties); and seek their guidance on the way forward.
IN MORE DETAIL: The global stocktake decision establishes an “annual global stocktake dialogue” to “facilitate the sharing of knowledge and good practice on how the outcomes of the GST are informing the preparation of Parties’ next NDCs in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Paris Agreement” starting June 2024. The secretariat has prepared reports for 2024 and 2025 GST NDC Dialogues for consideration by Parties. However, Parties have not been able to agree on: whether to set out messages and substantive elements from the reports or whether and when the Dialogue should continue or conclude. Given that the Dialogue has started to consider the latest round of NDCs and that the two annual reports are outstanding, some Parties sought to reassure that the Dialogue would be facilitative, not prescriptive, and a safe space for reflection on the preparation and implementation of NDCs. However, other Parties contend that the mandate implies the Dialogue has fulfilled its intended purpose and timeline, that its outcome should not be negotiated, and that Parties must adopt short, factual, procedural conclusions.
Mitigation Work Programme
TOP LINE: Technical level negotiations on the mitigation work programme (MWP) were unable to resolve key areas of divergence between countries as they forwarded an informal note to the second week. The main sticking points are: whether to establish a digital Mitigation Platform; complementarity with the global stocktake; whether to send messages from the fifth and sixth global dialogues on forests and circular economy, respectively—and, if so, what messages; and whether to establish a review of the work programme.
IN MORE DETAIL: The MWP was established at COP26 (2021) to accelerate both ambition and implementation in this critical decade in a manner that complements the global stocktake. Negotiations to date have struggled to move beyond political stalemates and purely procedural decisions, raising questions for some about whether the MWP is fulfilling its mandate. Parties at COP30 have been unable to agree on potential “improvements,” including ways to facilitate matchmaking between mitigation implementers and investors, such as a digital platform and pitch hubs to complement investment-focused events. Parties’ differing interpretations of the MWP mandate to complement the GST has resulted in conflicting expectations for a decision on the MWP at COP30. If not resolved in Belém, Parties will revisit these issues in 2026—when Parties must consider whether to renew it.
The Paris Agreement Article 2, paragraph 1(c) on finance
TOP LINE: Technical negotiations on the alignment of financial flows through Article 2.1(c)—which calls for making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development—and its complementarity with Article 9 have made some progress in capturing Party views in a draft text (which is not available online), though large issues remain unresolved. Most Parties welcomed a report on the Sharm el-Sheikh Dialogue from 2023-2025, including recommendations by the co-chairs, but consensus has yet to emerge on whether the dialogue should be continued past 2025.
IN MORE DETAIL: While many Parties expressed interest in continuing financial alignment discussions, key concerns remain, including: in what format the work could continue (technical negotiations or ministerial dialogue); what the concrete objectives of an extension might be; and its linkages to other parts of the process, e.g., the global stocktake. There was, however, agreement recognizing the criticality of safeguards, with Parties maintaining that conversations related to financial alignment remain non-prescriptive, nationally determined, and do not impose additional burdens of conditionality or reporting. Without an extension, the Sharm el-Sheikh Dialogue on these matters would end after COP30.
Gender Action Plan
TOP LINE: Parties agreed to forward draft text for a new gender action plan (GAP) to the second week of COP30,. The previous GAP expired in 2024, meaning Parties have gone a year without a GAP. While Parties have made progress working toward consensus on some activities in the new GAP, negotiations have been constrained by deeply rooted differences in national gender priorities, with Parties maintaining red lines that directly conflict with one another.
IN MORE DETAIL: Four Parties have called for footnotes saying they define gender as binary according to the Rome Statute, while others are strongly opposed to adding such footnotes. Some Parties have said they would not agree to a text without the removal of all references to women environmental human rights defenders (WEHRD), while others have said they would not agree to a text without reference to WEHRD. Other areas of divergence include, but are not limited to: whether to mention public finance instruments and methodologies as means of implementation, and language of equality and gender-responsiveness.
Technology Implementation Programme
TOP LINE: Parties agreed to forward draft text on the technology implementation programme (TIP) to the second week of COP30, recognizing that it does not represent consensus among Parties and that further insertions, deletions, and deliberations are required before the finalization of the text. Parties still diverge on several key elements of the TIP, including its relationship to the global stocktake.
IN MORE DETAIL: The TIP was established by the GST at COP28 (2023) but has not yet been operationalized. Parties have not been able to agree on key elements of the TIP, including its scope, timelines, and operational modalities. While Parties still disagree on key details of the TIP, they made significant progress last week toward agreement on a structure for a decision on the TIP.
Arrangements for Intergovernmental Meetings
TOP LINE: Parties concluded discussions on arrangements for intergovernmental meetings, which considers issues such as efficiency of the UNFCCC process and who will host future COPs. The draft decision text, which expresses Parties’ appreciation that Ethiopia will host COP32, is expected to be adopted at the conclusion of COP30.
IN MORE DETAIL: Parties at COP30 built on text agreed in June, reflecting efforts to make the UNFCC process more efficient and inclusive. These efforts include inviting Parties to pursue efficiency in their work and requesting the Secretariat to continue to cluster mandated events where feasible and ensuring they be appropriately budgeted. A number of Parties expressed their frustration that more progress was not made on this issue at COP30. Parties will continue consideration of efforts to increase the efficiency of the UNFCCC process at SBI64 (June 2026).
National Adaptation Plans
TOP LINE: Parties agreed to continue deliberations on the progress assessment for the formulation and implementation of national adaptation plans (NAPs). This item was postponed from COP29 and seeks to assess the progress developing country Parties have made on formulating and implementing their NAPs. Parties disagree over the difficulty of developing countries’ ability to access: finance; capacity building; and technology transfer for implementation of their NAPs.
IN MORE DETAIL: The progress assessment for the formulation and implementation of NAPs was postponed from COP29 to COP30 as Parties were able to reach consensus. Draft text was released on November 14 and forwarded to the COP. However, Parties diverged on: the discussions on NAPs on enabling conditions for formulating and implementing NAPs; mainstreaming adaptation action into national planning processes; means of implementation; and improving tracking for adaptation finance.
Loss and Damage
TOP LINE: Parties agreed to adopt the joint annual report of the Santiago Network and Warsaw International Mechanism for loss and damage (WIM) Executive Committee on draft conclusions. Parties will continue to consider and discuss the Third Review of the WIM and the Report for the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD).
IN MORE DETAIL: Loss and damage (L&D) negotiations items considered at COP30 include: the Third Review of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) associated with L&D; the joint annual report of the Santiago Network for providing technical assistance for L&D and the WIM Executive Committee; and the Report of the FRLD. Parties continued to diverge on the Third Review of the WIM on issues relating to: finance; whether they should take note of the International Court of Justice ruling; the role of the global stocktake; and a potential global state of loss and damage report. The joint annual report of the Santiago Network and WIM ExCom welcomed the progress they had made and their efforts relating to L&D. In the Report of the FRLD, Parties reflected on divergences regarding direct access modalities of FRLD and references to the New Collective Quantified Goal. The joint annual report of the Santiago Network and WIM ExCom was forwarded for adoption.
Agriculture
TOP LINE: Parties adopted draft conclusions for the Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security and reflected on the workshop on systemic and holistic approaches to climate action on agriculture, food systems and food security from SB62 (June 2025), and agreed to continue work at SB64 (June 2026).
IN MORE DETAIL: The Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security is a four-year joint work under the Subsidiary Bodies to enhance action on agriculture and food security by knowledge sharing, consideration of reports and organization of workshops. It is an agenda item under the Subsidiary Bodies.
Article 6 on Carbon Markets
TOP LINE: A new draft decision text on the Article 6.4 Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) is expected to be published over the weekend to support further negotiations in the second week. The PACM establishes a centralized framework for Parties to issue, use and trade carbon credits. The current draft decision on the annual report of the Supervisory Body of the Mechanism (SBM) generated contrasting views from Parties. For example, some Parties deemed problematic the request to the Supervisory Body to revise its recently issued baseline and permanence standards. As currently written, the latter requires post-crediting period monitoring for an indefinite amount of time, so as to minimize reversal risks, a liability that most nature-based solutions project developers would not be able to take on. This effectively excludes such projects from participating under the PACM.
IN MORE DETAIL: Parties have the opportunity to provide further guidance to the SBM as it continues to operationalize the PACM. Some Parties expressed disagreement on proposed language encouraging the use of Article 6.4 emission reduction units (A6.4ERs) to increase NDC ambition (not only implementation), as it could prejudge the use of A6.4ERs to specific objectives. There is also disagreement on whether the deadline for transitioning projects, set out to December 2025 at COP26, should be extended (and by how much) into 2026. This will be discussed further on the premise that Article 6 was only fully operationalized at COP29 and Parties are still working on their national carbon markets strategy. A lack of consensus could entail the production of methodological guidance that may not be useful to some Parties’ carbon market development priorities. Keeping the initially established timeline for transitioning credits from the Kyoto Protocol would limit the number of those credits eligible for use under Article 6.
TOP LINE: A draft decision on Article 6.2—setting out the accounting rules for cooperative approaches involving the exchange of carbon credits as internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs)— will be considered by Parties in the second week.
IN MORE DETAIL: Parties requested the secretariat to: add more detail on reports of Article 6.2 technical expert reviews, which are meant to identify inconsistencies with the guidelines for Parties to address; and requested to hold in-session workshops on these reviews starting in June 2026. Parties also welcomed the dialogues held in 2025 to exchange views and best practice on how cooperative approaches can enhance ambition and implementation.
TOP LINE: Parties will consider a draft decision on non-market approaches (NMA) under Article 6.8 for adoption in the second week. Article 6.8 establishes a framework for collaborative NMA to support Parties in achieving their NDC targets through holistic mitigation approaches that include adaptation, technology transfer, finance, and capacity building. These approaches do not involve carbon credits. The CMA A on Article 6.8, was forwarded for Parties’ adoption next week.
IN MORE DETAIL: Parties will review what is essentially a progress report on the implementation of the work program by the Glasgow Committee on Non-Market Approaches. The draft decision text highlights the effectiveness of several secretariat-led capacity building sessions and the progress made on improving the NMA Platform, including the launch of an online forum for Parties and non-Party stakeholders to exchange knowledge and provide support in the design and implementation of NMA. As of November 13, three NMA have been registered, 106 national focal points have been nominated and 31 support providers listed.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUTSIDE THE NEGOTIATIONS
At the High Level Event on the Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T, the COP30 and COP29 Presidencies presented the final Roadmap report to Parties. The work also included a catalogue of initiatives and best practices highlighted through the COP30 Circle of Finance Ministers, the UN Independent High Level Expert Group on Finance, and consultations with countries and other stakeholders. Parties welcomed the Roadmap and many expressed a need for further work to implement the recommendations of the report.
On finance announcements:
- Brazil officially launched the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) in a high-level event led by President Lula. Initial contributors include Brazil (USD $1 billion), Indonesia (USD $1 billion), Norway (USD $3 billion), Portugal (EUR €1 million), Netherlands (USD $5 million for secretariat start up), France (EUR €500 million), and the Minderoo Foundation (USD $10 million), though some pledges are conditional upon the facility’s capitalization.
- Spain pledged EUR €20 million to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD).
- The Brazilian-led Belém Health Action Plan launched with an initial USD $300 million investment from the Climate and Health Funders Coalition, a group of more than 35 philanthropies.
Nine Parties (European Union, South Africa, Côte D’Ivoire, Finland, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland) completed presentations of their Paris Agreement transparency reports through the Facilitative Multilateral Consideration of Progress (FMCP). Several reaffirmed the critical importance of transparency in shaping their understanding of national progress towards meeting NDCs and identifying gaps to improve implementation.
The COP30 Presidency held a Ministerial Roundtable on the Implementation of the Belém 4X Pledge on Sustainable Fuels, organized by the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM). 23 countries have agreed to a pledge of globally quadrupling sustainable fuels by 2035, backed by more than 70 companies. The IEA report shows this pledge can be achieved if all announced policies are fully implemented. The IEA will track progress in collaboration with the CEM.
In the past week, 35 countries submitted NDCs 3.0, bringing the total to 115. This includes 15 G20 Parties.
In a closed-door dialogue moderated by C2ES Vice President Kaveh Guilanpour, “High-Level Leadership Consultation: Delivering the New Era of NDC Implementation with the UN System,” participants discussed how to build a shared understanding of: what is needed to shift from NDC planning to implementation; identify high-impact levers to accelerate implementation; and explore how the UN system—including the successor to the Climate Promise—can best support countries to shift from ambition to action. Key takeaways:
- Countries have been submitting nationally determined contributions that are higher in quality and more credible than ever before
- Many countries are leveraging their NDCs to drive investment for climate action, but more is needed
- There is a need for better, more inclusive, coherent and sustained finance, including for adaptation. There also needs to be more promotion of technology development and transfer.
- NDCs can be thought of as blueprints for development, that chart the way forward to a positive future and take advantage of economic opportunities. Climate and development synergies need to be leveraged to a greater extent.
The Mission Efficiency initiative, of which C2ES is a partner, announced the launch of the energy efficiency de-risking platform as a key feature of its PAS aligned with the doubling of energy efficiency. Mission Efficiency will also work on key leavers to advance energy efficiency, including: tracking; energy efficiency targets and roadmaps; deploying energy efficient appliances and motors; advocating for the adoption of building codes; and bringing the average homeowner and consumer into the energy efficiency movement.
A pilot under the Journey Fund, a global investment platform held by Bridging Ventures, in partnership with the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, providing catalytical capital to scale just transition investments, has launched in Colombia with a USD $10 million commitment toward a USD $200 million goal for Latin America. This is one of several initiatives that showcase commitment to advancing pathways and strategies for transitioning away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly, and equitable manner.
In a panel at the Peru Resilience Hub moderated by C2ES President Nat Keohane titled “Insurance for Adaptation Planning,” panelists highlighted the importance for understanding risks to improve private sector engagement on adaptation.
C2ES Vice President Kaveh Guilanpour moderated a side event hosted by the Government of Andorra, Asociación Civil Oikos (OIKOS) and Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Centre. Panelists stressed the need to incorporate mountain priorities in UNFCCC processes. They also emphasized the need to address the unique vulnerabilities of mountains to climate change at COP30, including by: adopting mountain-relevant adaptation indicators in a decision on the global goal on adaptation; considering requesting an annual dialogue on mountains and climate change; considering an agenda item on mountains and climate change; increasing finance for the most vulnerable communities; strengthening transparency inputs to show best practice and needs in mountain communities; and working toward a second global stocktake addresses the needs of mountains.
C2ES’s side event, “Towards the Second Global Stocktake: Recalibrating the UN Climate Regime to Strengthen Climate-Biodiversity-
C2ES President Nat Keohane participated in a fireside chat November 12 hosted by the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Institute with California State Senator Henry Stern, moderated by SEEC Board of Directors President Clinton Britt, about trends for climate and sustainability priorities in corporate America and opportunities for progress that companies can help lead.
C2ES Vice President Kaveh Guilanpour spoke about opportunities to enhance international cooperation and accelerate implementation in the UN climate system at a panel hosted by LACLIMA. Points raised included: stabilizing the COP30 Presidencies vision for the action agenda to directly link to the outcomes of the global stocktake; considering Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley’s proposal for a new methane treaty; better understanding what a net-zero 2050 looks like for all countries and regions; considering calling for synergies between the Rio Conventions and SDGs in a COP30 decision; and considering welcoming the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion in a COP30 decision.
C2ES hosted a side event titled “The Global Stocktake: Driving Solutions and Ambition” at the Australia Pavilion. Australia could be the host for COP31 – the moment the second global stocktake kicks off. Moderated by C2ES Vice President Kaveh Guilanpour, speakers, including the Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency and Australia’s lead negotiator, spoke to the impact and legacy of the global stocktake, the progress and opportunities presented by its targets and signals, and the importance of robust and credible science and research to inform it and the global community – including the non-state actors needed to implement the energy transition
C2ES Vice President Kaveh Guilanpour participated in the high-level launch event of the #Together4Transparency initiative organized by the UNFCCC Secretariat. On a panel, he highlighted the importance of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), in particular the review of country reporting through the facilitative, multilateral consideration of progress (FMCP) presentations that will happen on November 15. For more information, see C2ES’ paper: Harnessing the Opportunities of the Facilitative Multilateral Consideration of Progress (FMCP) for Ambition.
At a side event on the Future of the Action Agenda hosted by the World Wildlife Fund, C2ES Vice President Kaveh Guilanpour said the COP30 Presidency’s vision for the Action Agenda should be mainstreamed and stabilized across multiple COP Presidencies (see: A Vision for the 2025-2030 Action Agenda). This could be done through a COP30 decision that: welcomes the Climate High-Level Champions and the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action five-year plan to foster international cooperation and inform agreed UNFCCC outcomes and processes, particularly in the context of the global stocktake; and encourage countries to more actively participate in the Action Agenda.
At a side event titled “A Solutions Agenda for Climate Action: Sustainable Agriculture and Responsible Mining” C2ES Vice President Kaveh Guilanpour spoke to the legacy and Lessons learned from the first global stocktake. He noted the unique importance of COP30: it takes place at an inflection point in the climate regime, with the last of the guidance for the implementation of the Paris Agreement agreed and conclusion of its first ambition cycle. It also is important in navigating the transition from target setting to implementation. We need to start thinking about the second global stocktake, which we must ensure will be even more effective than the first.
On Monday, November 10, the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) hosted their flagship event for The Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets at the Singapore Pavilion in Belém. Launched during London Climate Action Week in June 2025 and co-chaired by Kenya, Singapore, and the UK, the Coalition drives demand for high-integrity carbon credits across voluntary and Article 6 markets, unlocking the full potential of carbon markets. This event underscored The Coalition’s next phase, focusing on how governments can implement the Coalition’s Shared Principles and Plan of Action to harmonize credit use and boost grant-like finance for climate solutions. Business leaders and government representatives from Zambia, Kenya, Singapore, the UK, Panama, and Peru attended.
On November 11, C2ES President Nathanial Keohane led a meeting with Ambassador Ravi Menon of Singapore’s National Climate Change Secretariat to discuss energy transition credits as a new asset class of high impact, high-integrity credits that can support country and company climate goals. The Kinetic Coalition, managed by C2ES, is advancing real-world energy transition credit pilots in the Dominican Republic and the Philippines. Several countries and other stakeholders attended and agreed on the importance of solutions like energy transition credits to enable and accelerate the transition to clean energy systems in emerging and developing economies and reduce emissions from the energy sector – the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
On November 12, C2ES President Nat Keohane joined an event hosted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to discuss the release of the Transition Credits Coalition’s (TRACTION) Final Report and Statement of Support for Energy Transition Credits from private and public sector entities. As leader of the Kinetic Coalition, Keohane highlighted how TRACTION is establishing the integrity, scalability, and demand for energy transition credits, and how initiatives like Kinetic Coalition can further advance that work. MAS announced two pilot projects; one in collaboration with ACEN Corporation and the Coal to Clean Credit Initiative to accelerate the retirement of the South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation (SLTEC) coal plant in the Philippines, and another with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is advising the Government of Philippines on the early retirement of a coal plant in Mindanao under its Energy Transition Mechanism.
SOME UPCOMING EVENTS
Operationalizing Climate-SDG Synergies: From Policy Alignment to Implementation | Monday, November 17, 2025 | 13:15-14:30 | SDG Pavilion | featuring Kaveh Guilanpour
Baku High Level Dialogue on Adaptation | Tuesday- Wednesday, November 18-19, 2025| 10:00-13:00 | Meeting Room 19, Area D| COP29 and COP30 Presidency
Global Climate Action High-Level Closing Event: “Connecting Solutions and Accelerating Implementation Actions” – Mandated event| November 19, 2025| 14:00-15:00| Plenary Tocantis, webcast | Global Climate Action
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