Net zero

Cop: Paris goals remain elusive

Cop: Paris goals remain elusive

Belem, 7 November (Argus) — A decade after the birth of the Paris climate agreement, most countries still hail it as a landmark. But they also agree that to meet the agreement's goals, countries still need to implement much of what they committed to do 10 years ago. That seems to be the sentiment, heading into the 10 November start of the Cop 30 UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil. It is one that was raised many times during the leaders' summit held over the past two days in advance of the main conference and re-confirms its status as the "implementation Cop". "The Paris Agreement is rightly celebrated, but it is poorly implemented," said Laurent Fabius, president of Cop 21, where the agreement came together in 2015. Others at the pre-Cop leaders' summit appeared to agree. "What we must ask ourselves today is: are we really doing our best?" Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said. "The answer is: not yet." While the greenhouse gas emissions reduction pledges made over the past decade can be hailed as considerable progress, more needs to be done to reach the Paris goals. The agreement aims to limit the rise in temperature global temperatures to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursues a 1.5°C threshold. At the moment, the world looks to be on a path to 2.3-2.5°C . "What we are expecting from Cop is to implement things that have already been decided," Fabius said, referring to the "circle" of eight past Cop presidents he is leading in Belem. "Implementation. Implementation. Implementation," Turkish vice president Cevdet Yılmaz said. But what implementation means varies from one party to another, usually along the usual global ‘north and south' lines that are common at the UN talks. "Developed countries should take the lead on emissions," Chinese vice premier Ding Xuexiang said. He also called for "true multilateralism" and for countries to "translate commitments into concrete action." "We need to strengthen international collaboration in green technology and industry, remove trade barriers and ensure the free flow of quality green products to better meet the needs of global sustainable development", he said. European leaders reiterated their commitment to Paris goals. "This must be the Cop that keeps 1.5‌°C within reach", European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. "Europe is staying the course, and we offer our support to our partners to do the same." Finance remains the big obstacle. "Compensation is necessary", Suriname president Jennifer Geerlings-Simons said. Last year's Cop, in Baku, Azerbaijan, resulted in a commitment of at least $300bn/yr for developing countries by 2035, with developed countries "taking the lead." The agreement also calls for public and private sources to scale up to at least $1.3 trillion/yr, also by 2035. But developing countries wanted a significantly higher commitment, and many say they are still waiting for past pledges to be fulfilled to help them transition to cleaner energy and adapt to climate change. "The promises of climate finance have not been met," Lula said. "Today, only a small portion of climate finance reaches the developing world." If that money does not come through, the goals of Paris may be further out of reach. "Without adequate means of implementation, demanding ambition from developing countries is unfair and unrealistic," Lula said. By Michael Ball Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.