Below are some summaries, analysis and reflections on the outcomes of COP30.
REFLECTIONS from UMC Observers
United Methodists were well represented at COP30, both in person and virtually. Rev. Dr. Becca Edwards, Climate Fellow at the General Board of Church and Society and Texas Impact was on the ground in Belém, Brazil during the first week of this year’s climate talks. GBCS also obtained virtual credentials for several Caretakers of God’s Creation—Rev. Joan Pell (Cal-Nevada), Rev. Laura Baumgartner (Pacific-Northwest), Nate Wieland (Illinois Great Rivers), Rev. Jonathan Brake (Western North Carolina), and Grace Pugh Hubbard (New England). Also credentialed was Rev. Mel Caraway (Horizon Texas) through Texas Impact.
- December 8. Making the Right Decisions for the Wrong Reasons by Rev. Joan Pell
- December 2. Cutting off Our Nose by Rev. Dr. Becca Edwards
- December 1. Reflections from COP30 by all the observers, hosted on UMCJM website
- Links to daily reflections during COP30 from the observers are on our Daily Updates page
OUTCOME Summaries
- Brazilian Presidency Site: COP30 approves Belém Package
- BBC: What was agreed on climate change at COP30 in Brazil?
- Climate Home News: COP30 fails to land deal on fossil fuel transition but triples finance for climate adaptation
Faith GROUPS COP30 REFLECTIONS
- Fossil Free UMC: “Fossil Fuels”: The New “F” Word by Rev. Sharon Delgado
- World Council of Churches: WCC Statement on Proclaiming Jubilee for People and Planet: Reflections on The Outcomes of the Cop30 and the G20 Leaders’ Summit
- Links to other reflections from these faith groups during COP30 are on our Daily Updates page
United Nations COP30 Reporting
- United Nations News Belém COP30 delivers climate finance boost and a pledge to plan fossil fuel transition
- COP30 Closing Plenary Speech made by Simon Steill:
“COP30 showed that climate cooperation is alive and kicking, keeping humanity in the fight for a livable planet” - Brazilian Presidency Site:
COP30: landmark outcomes emerge from negotiations despite unprecedented geopolitical tensions - Statement from the UN Secretary General: on the agreement at COP30
News Reports / Analysis
- InfoAmazonia:
COP30 ends with minimal commitments, Latin American objections, and lots of work ahead - Climate Action Network International:
COP30 takes a hopeful step towards justice but does not go far enough - Inside Climate News:
COP30 Backpedals on Climate Action - World Resources Institute:
COP30 Delivers on Forests and Finance, Underdelivers on Fossil Fuels - Carbon Brief: (an in-depth analysis)
Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Belém - International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources:
IUCN welcomes COP30 call to triple adaptation finance, regrets insufficient progress on fossil fuels - International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD):
COP 30 Outcome: What it means and what’s next - Drilled Media: COP-tastrophe: How the COP of Implementation, Truth, Forests, and Indigenous Peoples Failed on All Counts
- Global Center on Adaptation: GCA Adaptation Update
- BBC:
Five key takeaways from a deeply divisive climate summit - NBC News:
Deal gets mix of lukewarm praise and complaints - Associated Press:
Here’s what’s next in the fight to curb climate change, now that talks in Brazil have ended - The Guardian (no paywall):
Cop30’s watered-down agreements will do little for an ecosystem at tipping point - NY Times (paywall):
Oil Producers, but Maybe Not the Planet, Get a Win as Climate Talks End
Full Outcome Text
- The final outcome detailed texts from COP30: Belém Political Package
OUR Other COP30 Links
Daily posts from UMC virtual observers plus background information about COP30 and prayers for COP30 can be found here: