What is COP30?

COP30 is an international conference organized by the United Nations for discussions and negotiations on climate change. It will take place from 10 to 21 November in Belém do Para, Brazil, a port city in the Amazon region. 

It is the 30th Conference of the Parties (hence the acronym: COP30), which brings together the signatory countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) each year. 

What are the objectives of COP30?

The COP30 Action Agenda outlines 30 key objectives to elevate climate action, based on our progress in meeting the goals of the 2016 Paris Agreement. These objectives fall under six thematic pillars, which cover mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, and capacity-building: 

1. 1. Transitioning energy, industry and transport away from fossil fuels 
   2. Stewarding forests, oceans and biodiversity 
   3. Transforming agricultural and food systems 
   4. Building resilience for cities, infrastructure and water 
   5. Fostering human and social development 
   6. Unleashing enablers and accelerators including on financing, technology and capacity building 

How is COP30 unique? 

Among the many important topics at this conference such as climate finance, the continued but ignored calls for transiting out from fossil fuels (the main contributing factor of contemporary climate change), and the new cycle of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, this is a Climate COP uniquely dubbed as the Amazon COP. The peril of the nearby Amazon rainforest is in focus, emphasizing the challenge of biodiversity loss because of anthropogenic climate change and the importance of nature-based solutions to the climate catastrophe. 

A Rocha attendees at COP30: 

For the fifth year in a row, the A Rocha Worldwide Family will have a small on-site contingent participating in this conference as officially registered observers. In addition to the three national team members – Seth Appiah-Kubi from Ghana, Samuel Chiu from Canada, and Ronald Rienstra from the US – we are also joined by a team of 30+ others from 14 counties with the Christian Climate Observers Program (CCOP), in which multiple A Rocha organizations are contributing partners.

Why is A Rocha involved? 

As Christians, we believe we have a double biblical mandate to work on climate change: 

1. 1. We are commanded to care for God’s creation because He made it and loves it, and a stable climate system is part of God’s creation, vital to the existence of those He has made. 
   2. We are commanded to love our neighbour, the poor and vulnerable among us, who are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. 

Furthermore, we want to bear witness by attending, praying, participating, and lobbying for ambitious solutions to be adopted for the benefit of both humans and the rest of creation. We also help inform, raise awareness and mobilize Christians.  

As a global biodiversity conservation organization, A Rocha offers expertise on the interconnectedness of climate change, biodiversity loss and human poverty, as well as nature’s capacity to mitigate climate change. See our policy statements: 

• Tackling the Three Global Crises with Faith 
• Nature-based Solutions to Climate Change 

What can I do?

No matter the outcome, churches and individuals will need to step up their own action on climate change.

Though many of us feel powerless in the face of the climate crisis, it is important to remember that we can take practical action and campaign. To find out more about how you can get involved, visit our website here.