The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30), held for the first time in the heart of the Amazon, has already shown concrete signs of progress after the first days of negotiations, although as always the most important part — the financing for the agreements — remains for the final stretch of the summit this week.
Under the slogan “discuss the Amazon in the Amazon,” this summit has mobilized world leaders, activists, Indigenous peoples, and negotiators with the goal of translating commitments into concrete action.
Although the main agreements still remain to be ratified, this summit aims to break with previous meetings in which words, despite being put on paper, remained rhetoric that national or strategic interests made impossible to materialize.
First agreements at COP30 in Brazil and a look ahead to the final stretch
Since the opening in the Amazonian city of Belem, Brazil has put forward an ambitious climate finance road map. Its main proposal is the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF), a mechanism designed to reward conservation instead of punishing destruction. With an estimated target of US$125 billion, the fund seeks to guarantee stable income for countries that preserve their forests.
In parallel, Brazil insisted that COP30 must mark a profound shift: Moving from promises to implementation. In his opening speech, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva emphasized that the summit was not just a diagnostic window, but an opportunity to lay out realistic paths toward a greener and more equitable energy transition.
One of the most innovative conditions of the forest fund is its structure of clear incentives: As proposed, countries that maintain their forests could receive a premium of approximately US$4 per hectare per year, while nations that continue deforestation practices would face higher penalties. This represents a paradigm shift: That the forest ceases to be seen as an obstacle to development and becomes a global asset.
Inclusion, science, and an Amazon with its own voice in the energy transition
Another essential pillar in these first days has been the recognition of the central role of Indigenous communities and ancestral knowledge. Brazil has argued that the summit should not be solely diplomatic, but deeply inclusive: To this end, it has pushed for the full participation of Indigenous peoples in all decision-making bodies, supported by the principle of free, prior, and informed consultation established in ILO Convention 169.
In addition, science has been strongly promoted as the basis for climate action. The COP presidency has circulated messages reiterating that this edition must be the “COP of truth,” a space in which scientific data becomes solidarity and tangible policies.
The priorities established by Brazil for the summit — implementation, inclusion, and innovation — are not rhetoric. Explicit commitments have been proposed to involve local players, from Indigenous communities to Amazonian cities, and to transform forest protection into an economically sustainable activity.
In energy matters, one of the first areas of consensus points to a determined push for biofuels. Brazil has proposed quadrupling the production of sustainable fuels — such as biofuels and other ecological derivatives — by 2035, as a way to reduce dependence on fossil fuels without imposing an abrupt phaseout.
This strategy seeks to combine mitigation with development: To promote renewable sources that boost the tropical bioeconomy while creating opportunities for local economies within the Amazon itself.
What to expect from the final week of negotiations?
With half the summit already concluded, COP30 enters its final phase with pressure on ministers and heads of delegation to finalize ambitious agreements. The agenda aims to close three fundamental lines.
First, climate finance will be a key issue. Even though TFFF has generated enthusiasm, questions persist about additional funding sources, the governance of the fund, and the real commitment of higher-income countries to contribute stable resources. The international community will demand transparent mechanisms to ensure that the money flows without corruption and with equity.
In parallel, the energy transition will continue to dominate the conversation. Countries are expected to negotiate a broader political commitment to increase the production of sustainable fuels, especially biofuels, but also green hydrogen and other derivatives. The key will be defining how to coordinate this transition with social justice and the development of forest regions.
Moreover, the inclusion of Indigenous communities will not be merely symbolic in speeches: Negotiators must translate their demands into concrete actions. Representatives of Indigenous peoples will seek to ensure that their voices are not sidelined in decision-making. For this reason, intense debates are expected on how to guarantee their full participation and how to link traditional knowledge with climate science.
Finally, climate science and the purpose of the COP as a forum of truth could play a decisive role. Updated studies are expected on the Amazon’s capacity to absorb carbon, on forest tipping points, and on the consequences of failing to halt deforestation. These reports will serve as the basis for the final negotiations, pressuring states to commit to real, not merely aspirational, targets.
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