Commentary on the COP30 outcome: "COP30 tells the story of a hollow process" (in Dialogue Earth)

(Dialogue Earth)

As part of a collection of African perspectives on the COP30 outcome, Dialogue Earth has published analysis from IMAL's Executive Director, Iskander Erzini Vernoit, alongside that of other Africans (full article available here):

"Difficult conversations denied, meaningful multilateralism delayed: COP30 tells the story of a hollow process, awaiting the day when governments are ready for at-scale action and funding, not only words, to meet the climate emergency.

"On mitigation, calls for a roadmap from fossil fuels drew media focus, but the presidency saw too much divergence to deal with the topic under the formal process, instead opting for an initiative under its own authority.

"Insufficient media attention was given at the “Implementation COP” to the implementation gap, although the agreement on a COP30-31 Global Implementation Accelerator has potential. Many “developing countries” already have plans for phasing down fossil fuels, and have flagged that this transition requires international support to happen sooner rather than later. These calls, made in NDCs and other national plans for climate action, must not fall on deaf ears.

"The shadow of COP29 lay over COP30. Rich countries repeatedly sought to shut down discussion by pointing to the highly insufficient USD 300 billion goal for annual climate finance mobilization, agreed last year, which is assumed to be largely loans and only mandated to materialise from 2035.

"COP30 did, however, initiate a new work programme on climate finance. It is hoped this will provide a space for focused conversation on debt-free and grant-equivalent provision of finance under Article 9.1.

"On adaptation, COP30 offered little reassurance, with “developed countries” unwilling to triple adaptation finance by 2030, committing instead to the unserious date of 2035. The EU had said it would withhold tripling unless part of a quid pro quo, which various countries noted was contrary to legal obligations to provide adaptation finance, per the UN climate convention and Paris Agreement.

"Clearly, just keeping the multilateral show on the road is not enough to achieve a meaningful multilateralism capable of delivering on its aims."