Climate 411

Two voices, one opportunity: Choosing climate action over crisis at COP30

By Angela Churie Kallhauge / Published: October 31, 2025
COP30 Belem 2025

Photo: UN Climate Change/ Lara Murillo

By Angela Churie Kallhauge

The upcoming United Nations climate negotiations, COP30 in Belém, Brazil, is a milestone moment to reflect on progress made and the path ahead. It’s undeniable that the journey to a climate-resilient world has been turbulent, especially as we wrestle with the reality of political pushback, disengagement, and finance shortfalls faced in several countries.  

This year, in particular, has delivered a barrage of mixed messages that make the path ahead feel fractured. 

In one ear, we hear loud, often politically charged distraction. Climate deniers actively push back on climate policies under the guise of economic prosperity. 

But in the other ear, we hear opportunity. While that negative voice appears louder, the other, the voice of opportunity, is more robust.  

In spite of the headwinds, that voice of opportunity is backed up by reality. And by clear scientific and economic evidence: The economic case for climate action has never been stronger.  For example, there is more investment in clean energy than ever before. Renewable energy is forecast to meet over 90 percent of the global electricity demand growth through 2030. 

What’s more is that this voice is not singular, but rather a chorus of voices belonging to a whole-of-society effort — not just governments, but communities and companies, Indigenous Peoples and investors — coming together to seize the opportunity. Public opinion remains strongly in support, with 80 percent of people globally and 66 percent of people in the United States welcoming stronger climate action.  In the private sector, a review of 75 top companies showed that 53 percent are holding firm to their climate commitments and 32 percent are expanding their efforts. For the first time, over 1,000 Indigenous Peoples are accredited to join COP30.  

The question for all of us is: Which voice do we choose to hear? Do we listen to the unsubstantiated defender of the status quo, or the voices from across society acting on the evidence that climate action is the biggest opportunity of our lifetime?  

At EDF, our choice is clear: we need to amplify the voices of those who see the opportunity of climate action – businesses, communities, and civil society alike – to galvanize governments negotiating at COP30 to boost their ambition and champion true solutions.  

Here are the major issues we’ll be watching at the COP:
Read More »

Also posted in Climate Finance, Paris Agreement, United Nations / Tagged , , , , , , , | Authors: / Comments are closed

Financing Forest Conservation: Guiding Quality Forest Finance in the Baku to Belém Roadmap

By Zach Cohen and Mark Moroge / Published: July 22, 2025

Aerial view of a Costa Rican rainforest. Flickr/ Francisco Guerrero 2020

By Mark Moroge and Zach Cohen 

At this November’s UN Climate Conference in Belém, progress on climate finance will be measured not just in pledges, but in delivery – including for forests, which are critical to regulating the climate, sustaining biodiversity, and supporting millions of people. The driving question: how do we get more money to the people conserving critical ecosystems at the speed and scale needed to make a difference? 

Last year’s climate conference in Baku set an ambitious goal to mobilize $1.3 trillion by 2035 for developing countries. Over the coming months, countries will provide inputs on a ‘Baku to Belém Roadmap’, guiding public and private sectors to deliver on this target. While scaling climate finance is essential, so is ensuring its quality. Strengthening the affordability, accessibility, and effectiveness of climate funding must be priorities to catalyze transformative action. 

As the Baku to Belém Roadmap takes shape, these principles of quality cannot just be abstractions – they need to be translated within specific sectors and contexts. This is especially true for the forest sector, where stakeholders face underlying barriers to securing the financing they need, and where there are ripe opportunities to unlock new resources, from leveraging public money to catalyze private investment, to deploying innovative models like the Tropical Forests Forever Facility.  Read More »

Also posted in Carbon Markets, Climate Finance, Extreme Weather, Indigenous People, REDD+, United Nations / Tagged , , , , , , | Authors: , / Comments are closed

Bonn 2025: Charting the Path to COP30 and Enhanced Climate Action

By Sarah Swain and Zach Cohen / Published: June 12, 2025

2025 June Climate Meetings. UNFCCC/ Amira Grotendiek

Next week, the international climate community will convene in Bonn for the 62nd session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (June 16-26, 2025), or SB62. SB62 marks a critical milestone on the road to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, shaping the preparation and setting the stage for the negotiations.  

The meetings in Bonn will be guided by a central principle set by COP30 Presidency: the idea of “global mutirão,” the power of collective action to achieve goals no single actor can accomplish alone. Brazil has launched this initiative to identify common ground across regions and sectors, finding areas of convergence that can drive ambitious climate action forward. The Presidency has underscored the urgent need for this collaborative approach, particularly at SB62, to rebuild the multilateral trust strained during COP29 and by widening geopolitical rifts.  

Answering the global call for climate action, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is putting the spirit of “mutirão” into practice. At its core, EDF’s “mutirão” is already in our DNA. We play a unique role working with partners and allies across society – from local communities, major companies, Indigenous Peoples, governments and more – to find the shared goals that lead to groundbreaking solutions. Embracing collaboration and partnership has led us to impactful wins for planet and people: from supporting Indigenous Peoples’ participation in UN spaces to conserve forests, to gathering national oil companies together under an ambitious goal to slash methane emissions. Our commitment to this inclusive approach is essential for rebuilding the global trust needed for swift, fair, and ambitious climate action that delivers.  

Here are the thematic issues and topics EDF will be actively engaged in during SB62:

Read More »

Also posted in Agriculture, Climate Finance, Indigenous People, International, News, Oceans, Paris Agreement, United Nations / Tagged , , , , | Authors: , / Comments are closed

Good for the planet: At COP27, Lula da Silva positioned Brazil to be a climate leader

By Steve Schwartzman / Published: November 21, 2022
Lula da Silva at COP27

Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva meets with Indigenous leaders at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on November 17, 2022. Photo by COICA Communications.

Léalo en español

Leia-o em português

“Brazil is back,” said President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in his Nov. 16 address to COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh Egypt. But it’s a Brazil far more attuned to climate change, Amazon deforestation and Indigenous peoples’ rights than the one Lula assumed responsibility for when he first became president in 2003.

During his speech, Lula promised zero deforestation in Brazil by 2030, a first-ever Ministry for Indigenous Peoples, and crackdowns on the environmental crime that has run rampant under the Jair Bolsonaro government. He also talked about a return to the “civilizing values” championed by his former Environment Minister and now congresswoman-elect, Marina Silva.

These announcements were all met with great enthusiasm by Lula’s audience in Sharm El-Sheikh, where climate negotiators, civil society, businesses and others with a stake in the climate fight convened over the last two weeks.

The prospect of Brazil’s return to leadership in the international climate negotiations – and the promise of effective action to combat climate change – are both very important developments in the climate movement. Read More »

Also posted in Forest protection, Indigenous People, United Nations / Comments are closed

Forests have grabbed a prominent spot at COP27. Here are some highlights.

By Breanna Lujan / Published: November 10, 2022

Slogan at COP27. Source: Flickr

With COP27 now in full gear, we have plenty to be excited about when it comes to forest conservation. Last year’s climate convening in Glasgow put nature at the center of the climate agenda. We celebrated the declaration signed by more than 100 countries in Glasgow to end and reverse deforestation by 2030. The funding promises of almost $20 billion toward forest conservation were equally groundbreaking.

Despite those milestones, in the year since COP26 , the deforestation crisis has actually worsened . Deforestation in the Amazon, for example, increased by 48% over 2021. Yet there is hope.

Countries and companies are realizing the importance of conserving rainforests at scale. Commitments to end deforestation, along with promises to fund and compensate forest conservation, are growing. We’re also seeing more robust standards for emissions reductions credits from natural climate solutions, including forests.

This all bodes well, and COP27 is an opportunity to keep the momentum going on ending deforestation. So, what can we expect in Sharm El-Sheikh when it comes to conserving forests? Here’s a quick overview of the first three days’ action on forests, why they’re important, and what we expect to see over the rest of the conference. Read More »

Also posted in Carbon Markets, Forest protection, Indigenous People, International, REDD+, United Nations / Comments are closed