COP30: 111 countries submit climate target reports
The first day of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) - the UN climate convention in Belém - ended with the submission of 111 climate target reports, the so-called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni reported on Monday (Nov. 10).
Established under the Paris Agreement, the national plans containing the targets and commitments of the 195 signatory countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must be updated every five years. Before the opening of COP30, 79 countries had submitted their targets.
“This afternoon, we learned that 111 NDC reports have already been published,” she celebrated. “With 194 countries accredited for Belém, this demonstrates that we are strengthening multilateralism,” Toni added during a press conference.
The COP30 Executive Director also spoke about the negotiations, which led to the approval of the Action Agenda. According to her, the negotiations identified 145 priority themes to be addressed by November 21, when the conference ends.
“The big news today is that we were able to adopt the Action Agenda. I want to remind you that in the last four years we weren’t able to open the agenda on the first day. Opening it on the first day, at this geopolitical moment, may seem like a small thing, but it’s important to remember that in the last four COPs we couldn’t do it. If the agenda isn’t opened on all topics, you can't move forward,” she stated.
Technology
According to the director, one of the most challenging issues in the negotiations will be technology. The Paris Agreement envisions the transfer of technology and capacity-building support to help the poorest countries with mitigation, adaptation, and compliance with their NDCs.
The topic was initially addressed in June this year at SB60 (Session of the Subsidiary Bodies), also known as the Bonn Climate Change Conference, an annual meeting held in Germany in preparation for the Conference of the Parties.
The conference brings together government representatives, scientists, activists, and observers from around the world to discuss specific aspects of climate action and lay the groundwork for decisions made at the COPs.
“The technology issue was one of the few that didn’t reach an agreement; we left the Bonn meeting with almost everything agreed upon. This topic is extremely important to us: the transfer of capacity and technology to developing countries to help them accelerate their adaptation plans and NDCs,” Toni noted.
