Karina Custódio*
COP30 (Conference of the Parties) has reached its fifth day with negotiations underway and expectations of good results. This is the assessment of André Guimarães, executive director of IPAM (Amazon Environmental Research Institute) and special civil society envoy to the Conference.
“The Brazilian government made a very intelligent move, which was to bring forward the Leaders’ Summit. President Lula summoned the leaders, who met and already brought forward some points. In other words, we entered COP30 with the right environment to negotiate the work agenda and start capitalizing the TFFF [Forever Forest Fund], which created a driving agenda that allowed the Convention to start at an accelerated pace.”
Guimarães highlights the importance of continuing to discuss the reduction of fossil fuels, the main driver of the increase in greenhouse gas emissions on the planet.
“There are great expectations for next week and I really hope that some important aspects of this negotiation move forward, especially the issue of fossil fuels. Obviously there are divergent countries like Saudi Arabia, but the important thing is that Brazil has presented this agenda and it is being validated by some important countries.”
At least 23 countries have so far signed up to the informal commitment to phase out fossil fuels. Among them: England, the United Kingdom, Germany, the European Union and Colombia.
Consultations and progress
Four topics are being discussed in individual consultations with the presidencies: climate finance; response to the NDC synthesis report; unilateral trade measures and responses to the transparency synthesis report.
“Negotiations are taking place in all the pavilions. The interesting thing is that many country delegations are consulting their governments to move forward with the negotiations”, Guimarães points out.
The director also highlighted the launch of the Belém Health Action Plan, a global adaptation initiative focused on health, which has already received 80 endorsements from 30 countries and 50 civil society partners and IGOs. In addition to a 300 million dollar contribution from The Rockefeller Foundation, Wellcome Trust and IKEA Foundation.
Communications analyst: karina.sousa@ipam.org.br*
Cover Photo: Sara Leal/IPAM**