Belém, Brazil—World leaders at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, failed to meet the moment and the urgent economic need for ambitious action to reduce pollution, protect nature, and strengthen climate finance.
Ceres CEO and President Mindy Lubber said:
“While U.S. state and city leaders, members of Congress, and major companies and investors, as well as global firms with large U.S. footprints, made clear that they will continue advancing climate and nature solutions, world leaders fell short on an agreement to accelerate action.
Businesses affirmed their commitment to building a resilient, affordable clean economy, and the global initiatives needed to strengthen competitiveness, supply chain stability, job creation, and long-term economic growth. Investors, too, are taking a range of actions to integrate climate and nature risks and opportunities into investment, corporate engagement, policy advocacy, and disclosure practices. These private sector leaders understand that shifting away from fossil fuels will lower energy bills, make systems more efficient, reduce pollution, and help stabilize the global energy market.
And, surrounded by one of the planet’s most critical natural ecosystems, leaders also underscored the critical message that nature action and climate action must go hand in hand. For the first time, we saw the launch of an innovative financial model offering another pathway for the private sector to invest in solutions that can tackle nature and biodiversity loss alongside climate change. The new Tropical Forest Forever Facility stands out as an important step to safeguard irreplaceable rainforest environments by leveraging both public and private financing — with a promise to make money for its investors.
Climate finance was once again at the center of global climate negotiations, and rightly so, as it is fundamental to achieving our shared goal of preventing the worst impacts of a changing climate. The promise to bolster funding to protect vulnerable communities is a good step, but the world must go further where it matters most — mobilizing significantly more investment in emerging and developing economies. It’s time for governments, investors, and private sector leaders to change the narrative from risk to opportunity, from emerging to growth.
Overall, world leaders fell short on delivering the outcome businesses and communities need to fully capture the benefits of the clean economy. Much more is needed to meet the moment. Addressing the intertwined risks of nature loss and climate change is no longer optional. The private sector must ratchet up investments in climate and nature solutions, and governments must return to next year’s climate conference with more concrete and ambitious national climate plans to ensure an equitable transition and a thriving global economy.”
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About Ceres
Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and resilient economy. With data-driven research and expert analysis, we inspire investors and companies to act on the world's sustainability challenges and advocate for market and policy solutions. Together, our efforts transform industries, unlock new business opportunities, and foster innovation and job growth – proving that sustainability is the bottom line. For more information, visit ceres.org.