As the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) concluded in Belém, Brazil, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has welcomed the call to at least triple adaptation finance by 2035.
This, according to the organisation, represents an important step forward, given the substantial gap between developing countries’ adaptation needs and the international public finance currently available. COP30 also reiterated the vital importance of nature in climate action.
However, the Union expressed regret at insufficient progress on phasing out fossil fuels made at the conference.
COP30 witnessed the adoption of the Belém Adaptation Indicators, marking the culmination of a two-year long process to develop a robust indicator framework for assessing progress towards the 2030 targets established under the Paris Agreement’s Global Goal on Adaptation.
IUCN says it looks forward to further contributing to this process, specifically on the target and indicators to reduce climate impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity, and to accelerate the use of ecosystem-based adaptation and nature-based solutions.
IUCN regrets that more concrete results could not be achieved at COP30 on key issues that are central to addressing the climate crisis. Although Parties had taken a historic decision at COP28 to transition away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly and equitable manner, no pathway was agreed to advance this commitment.
This unresolved gap – highlighted at the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress, where IUCN Members called on States to create a pathway for an equitable transition away from coal, oil and gas in line with the 1.5°C temperature limit and biodiversity goals – remains a matter of serious concern.
Similarly, no consensus was reached to deliver a roadmap to halt and reverse forest loss and degradation by 2030, another goal agreed to at COP28 for which an agreed implementation pathway is lacking.
On a positive note, COP30 witnessed much progress on forests outside of the negotiations. This included the launching by Brazil of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility. During the thematic day on forests, IUCN highlighted the unmatched role of primary forests in addressing climate change and biodiversity conservation, and celebrated with Germany 15 years of the Bonn Challenge, the world’s largest forest restoration initiative.
IUCN welcomes Switzerland’s announcement of significant new investments to boost forest landscape restoration in Africa and South America.
Throughout the two weeks of the conference, including during a high-level ministerial roundtable convened by the COP30 Presidency, IUCN urged Parties to harmonise national policies, align reporting processes, and deepen collaboration across the Rio Conventions. While a formal decision on this matter could not be reached, there is greater recognition now of the importance of this issue within the UNFCCC, with Parties agreeing to continue their deliberations at the next intersessional meeting.
In addition, the current and incoming Presidencies of the UNFCCC, CBD and UNCCD released the Belém Joint Statement on the Rio Conventions underscoring their commitment to this issue. IUCN’s official side-event at COP30, co-organised with the Government of Japan and other partners, further underlined the importance of advancing environmental synergies towards UNEA 7 and beyond.
This was the first COP to be held in the Amazon rainforest, and the first with record levels of participation by Indigenous Peoples. IUCN recognises the importance of direct access to climate finance and indigenous-led funds, the protection of indigenous lands and territories as well as free, prior and informed consent in all projects affecting Indigenous peoples.
It was also the first time that Parties took a decision to develop a just transition mechanism to enable equitable and inclusive just transitions through international cooperation and capacity building, and also recognised the connection between just transition pathways and ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity.
Parties also approved, for the first time, dedicated dialogues to consider the connections between climate change and trade. The establishment of a two-year work programme on climate finance was also a welcome concrete step.
IUCN further welcomes the successful adoption of the Belém Gender Action Plan for 2026-2034, which provides a renewed framework for advancing gender-responsive climate policy and ensuring that women’s leadership and expertise are effectively integrated across climate action.
Other highlights for IUCN at COP30 include its participation in the Action Agenda, co-convened by the COP30 Presidency and the High-Level Climate Champions, and the launch of the ENACT Nature-based Solutions Accelerator Pathways Report, which provides a strategic framework to help countries rapidly integrate nature-based solutions into climate, biodiversity and development planning.
Working through the ENACT Partnership, co-chaired by Egypt and Germany, and in collaboration with other partners, IUCN delivered concrete Plans to Accelerate Solutions on Biodiversity Adaptation and Resilience and on Nature-based Solutions. COP30 also saw Mongolia joining the ENACT Partnership.
Along with strengthened action on forests, IUCN believes these initiatives will harness the power of nature to help address the climate crisis.
