What we’re looking at in October
This month, we look ahead to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, a gateway to the precious Amazon, explore how the new ECGT Directive is impacting B Corp certification, update you on changes to the CSRD framework, and share the inspiring journey of one of our clients, plus more.
What we’re expecting at COP30
From November 10th to 21st, world leaders will gather in Belém, Brazil, for COP30, ten years on from the Paris Agreement.
Unlike previous years, there’s no single defining theme. Instead, discussions are expected to range from climate finance and forest protection to fossil fuels, gender equality and inclusion.
The choice of location is symbolic. Belém sits at the edge of the Amazon, and Brazil plans to use the moment to launch the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), a fund aimed at protecting tropical ecosystems. However, its location is also causing issues; its remote setting and high accommodation costs have already raised concerns about accessibility, especially for smaller delegations from lower-income nations.
This COP also marks a decade since the Paris Agreement. Countries were expected to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) earlier this year, but most were late and many are still outstanding. Whether these will even be formally discussed in Belém remains uncertain.
A record 3,000 Indigenous participants are due to attend, which could be an important step for inclusion. On the other hand, last year a record 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists attended, a big jump from 503 in 2021. These figures show the huge presence of industry interests alongside Indigenous participants’ pleas for justice and equity, a contrast that will be interesting to follow this year.
We can also expect renewed debate over fossil fuels, after limited progress since last year’s commitments, and over how to raise the USD 1.3 trillion per year in climate finance developing countries say is needed, far above the USD 300 billion pledged at COP29.
As the US has once again withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, will we see a shift in power and leadership? Will other capable nations step in to fill the gap with finance, resources and climate research capacity?
If you want to keep an eye on what’s going on at Cop30, here are two people we’ll be waiting to hear from:
Sending a message
While the headlines from COP30 may remain uncertain, one thing isn’t: business action matters more than ever.
The We Mean Business Coalition is calling on companies worldwide to share how they’re driving change, creating jobs, and building resilient communities. Find out how to get involved here: