Eleventh-hour diplomacy salvages mutirão momentum on climate progress in Belém
Clare Shakya, The Nature Conservancy’s Global Managing Director for Climate, shares her perspectives on key outcomes from COP30.
“Irrespective of outcome, Brazil deserves credit for endeavouring to advance climate action across such a broad and bold front, in an ‘ambition year’ for the COP process. Despite notable shortfalls, the final text represents tangible progress across many critical areas—not all as high-profile as the launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF)—but important wins nonetheless for multilateralism at a turbulent time.
“From progressing Global Goal on Adaptation indicators, to securing unprecedented inclusion and recognition for Indigenous Peoples; from avoiding the derailing of Article 6; to the formal commitments made by COP President André Corrêa do Lago, to developing roadmaps on both deforestation and—crucially—the orderly and equitable phase-out of the fossil fuels; Belém has made a difference.
“While we would obviously have preferred fossil fuels to make it into the final text, rather than a separate COP Presidency process, this still represents progress of sorts in addressing the core cause of climate breakdown.
“Throughout this COP cycle, Brazil has fused ambition with commendable willingness to find creative solutions to key pain points, embodied by its philosophy of mutirão—charting a course forward for multilateral climate action in the face of growing headwinds and moving us toward a safer and more secure future for those communities on the front lines of the climate crisis.”
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.