World governments reached a compromise climate deal on Saturday at the COP30 conference in Brazil, agreeing to boost financial support for poorer nations struggling with global warming but leaving out any reference to fossil fuels, the main driver of the crisis.
The accord, known as the Belem deal, was struck after intense negotiations and is intended to showcase global unity in tackling climate impacts, even as the United States—the world’s largest historic emitter—declined to send an official delegation. “We should support it because at least it is going in the right direction,” said European Union climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra before the agreement was gaveled through.
The deal launches a voluntary initiative to accelerate climate action, helping countries meet existing pledges to cut emissions. It also calls on wealthy nations to triple the funds they provide to developing countries for climate adaptation by 2035. Scientists warn that while current commitments have reduced projected warming, they remain insufficient to prevent temperatures from surpassing 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels—a threshold that could trigger the most severe consequences of climate change.
Developing nations have stressed the urgent need for resources to cope with rising seas, extreme heat, droughts, floods, and storms already affecting communities. The agreement also sets in motion a review of how international trade can be aligned with climate goals, amid concerns that protectionist barriers are slowing the spread of clean technologies.
Avinash Persaud, special advisor to the Inter-American Development Bank, welcomed the focus on finance but cautioned that the deal fell short of providing rapid-release grants for countries facing immediate loss and damage. “That goal is as urgent as it is hard,” he said.
The EU had pushed for language committing nations to move away from fossil fuels, but faced strong opposition from the Arab Group, including Saudi Arabia. After all-night talks, negotiators agreed to omit the issue from the main accord, instead placing it in a separate text introduced by host nation Brazil.
