The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) will be held in Belem, Brazil, from November 10th to 21st. The location is centered at the edge of the Amazon rainforest, mainly because the Amazon’s deforestation crisis makes it a symbolic and urgent place to meet. The upcoming meeting has several main focuses and key discussions that will drive the next year of climate change advocacy and action. 

Indigenous rights and biodiversity are central themes, since millions of people rely on the Amazon rainforest for survival. NGOs, or non-governmental organizations, warn that without stronger protections, the Amazon could reach an irreversible “tipping point”, meaning that if humanity does not act soon, the forest and the billions of species could be lost forever. In addition, the COP30 Presidency has designated special thematic days on Justice and Human Rights, reinforcing the ethical dimension of climate change.

COP30 is the first major test of how countries respond to the Global Stocktake, which showed that the world is off climate balance by 1.5°C. At COP29, last year’s climate conference, in Baku, countries pledged to mobilize $300 billion per year in climate finance by 2035. However, negotiators failed to secure a strong fossil fuel phase-out deal, making COP30 even more important. Analysts predict COP30 will push for Natural Climate Solutions, such as forest restoration and Amazon protection. Furthermore, countries are expected to submit new, stronger national climate plans (NDCs) in line with the Paris Agreement. 

On the proactive side, about 100 parties, covering two-thirds of emissions, have already submitted new or updated NDCs, months ahead of COP30. This is mainly because the public and the growing generations demand “climate justice” and reparations from countries that are causing the most damage. NGOs are also advocating that COP30 ties justice to historical responsibility, and that those countries should take a more active stand on climate change. 

As a result, climate change is an ever-growing problem, and COP30 this November plans to address the main issues and find feasible and legitimate solutions for the future of the planet.