UN COP30 Releases Draft Belem Political Package as Climate Change Negotiations Conclude

The UN COP30 Climate Summit in Belem, Brazil, has released the draft Belem Political Package. This marks a crucial phase in global climate change negotiations involving over 190 countries.

The Amazonian city of Belem in Brazil is hosting the final negotiations of the UN COP30 Climate Summit. The draft of the Belem Political Package was released on Tuesday, marking a significant step in global climate change efforts. UN COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago urged countries to collaborate efficiently and equitably to finalise this package. The draft decisions are expected to be adopted on Wednesday after thorough discussions.

Negotiators from over 190 nations have convened for the annual Conference of Parties (COP) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This year's summit is being held in Belem, Brazil, from November 10 to 21. The COP30 Presidency has published 11 draft documents addressing various climate issues, though six topics remain unresolved. These drafts cover subjects such as trade restrictions related to climate change, synthesis reports on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the ambition gap for limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Climate Finance and Global Goals

The draft 'Global Mutirao: uniting humanity in a global mobilization against climate change' highlights climate change as a shared concern for humanity. It calls for respecting human rights obligations while addressing climate issues. The document commends 123 parties that have submitted new NDCs for the Paris Agreement's next policy cycle and urges others to update their contributions promptly.

India, among other countries, has yet to submit its revised NDC. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced that India's updated NDC until 2035 will be released by December this year. The Belem Political Package draft also emphasizes the need for collaboration among all actors to increase financing for developing countries' climate actions to at least USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035.

The UN body expressed concern over the unmet USD 100 billion financing goal, with developing countries receiving only about USD 60 billion on average over two years. The draft urges developed nations to enhance financial support for climate issues. Released on November 5, the 'Baku to Belem Roadmap to 1.3 trillion' builds on last year's COP29 agreement in Baku, calling for governments, banks, and businesses to mobilise USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035.

Paris Agreement and Financial Support

Another draft underscores the importance of predictable and clear financial information for implementing the Paris Agreement while acknowledging the need for flexibility to address evolving needs. The Green Climate Fund draft welcomed increased approvals of funding proposals, with USD 19.3 billion approved by the Board for 336 adaptation and mitigation projects across 134 developing countries.

The Paris Agreement, established in 2015, aims to significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Its goal is to limit global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius and strive for a limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels (baseline: 1850-1900). Since the pre-industrial era, global temperatures have risen by 1.3 degrees Celsius, primarily due to fossil fuel combustion.

The UN Emissions Gap report published earlier this month indicates that current policies could lead to a temperature increase of 2.8 degrees Celsius by 2100 if no significant changes are made.

With inputs from PTI