Day 9 of COP30: Prioritising System Resilience

Days 8 and 9 addressed our dependency on forests and oceans and their associated biodiversity. The key takeaway is that no solutions will be sufficient without the complete phase out of fossil fuels and a roadmap to guide that transition. Complementing this should be the regeneration of our ecosystems – on land and underwater – to ensure carbon is captured and sustainable food systems are created. To support these initiatives, there is a need for a fundamental mindset and cultural shift that prioritises the health of people and planet over profit.

Themes of the day have included:

Climate Change Performance Index

In the morning, GermanWatch, an independent organisation, released the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) for 2026. It looks at four categories across 66 countries and the EU:

1. Climate policy

2. GHG emissions

3. Renewable energy

4. Energy Use

Across all four keys areas, the analysis looked at the past performance of countries, the current policy status, and their future plans. The conclusion is that no country is doing enough in any of the four categories, which explains why the three top positions in the rank have been left empty. At position 4 – the highest ranking – is Denmark, followed by the United Kingdom and Morocco. Denmark has sustained its number one position for its longstanding commitment to environmental action and its policy mix that is cross-sectoral and strategic – such as the tax on agricultural emissions, a world’s first.

Out of the 67 ranks, Saudia Arabia is last with Iran and the United Statesalso at the bottom of the list. An insight from this ranking is that ten out of the G20 countries – nations shaping global economic and political policies – are amongst the worst performing countries, together responsible for 75% of global emissions. These include Saudi Arabia (#67) the US (#65), Russia (#64), Korea (#63), Canada (#61), Argentina (#58), Japan (#57), Australia (#56), China (#54), and Turkey (#52). Moreover, both potential host countries for COP31 – Australia and Turkey – are also amongst the worst performing countries.

Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels

Moreover, talks looked at how we could facilitate a just and equitable phase out of fossil fuels going forward. While COP30 proposed several pathways for this transition, Romain Ioualalen from Oil Change International delivered an important message: none of the options come close to what we know is needed.

The core challenge lies in supporting fossil fuel-dependent economies. Many struggle to transition due to financial constraints, a lack of technology, and issues of equity. Ioualalen argued that a successful roadmap must first address these hurdles to create science-based solutions. He condemned the current proposed text as a “disgrace” and called on leaders to “step up to the obligations that they have”.

This also raises questions: are the 1600 fossil fuel lobbyists at the summit  – outnumbering the delegations from the most climate-vulnerable countries – hindering progress? And why has Brazil, despite deciding that this COP will be the COP of Implementation, allowed such significant representation?

The need for a concrete roadmap is of the utmost urgency. We had to wait 28 years (COP28) for discussions to explicitly target fossil fuels, even though they are the main driver of the climate crisis – and this should be acknowledged as an achievement. But it’s not nearly enough – now, the focus must shift from promise to action. However, COP30 has so far failed to produce a roadmap consensus to achieve these goals.

This is a critical moment and could be a turning point. Jean Su from the Center for Biological Diversity urged leaders to capitalise on their presence in Belem to create an implementable global plan. This urgency is amplified by the absence of the United States for the next three years: if – and hopefully when – the US join the Paris Agreement again, they will be forced to implement the roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels developed in its absence. Therefore, the time to build this framework is right now.

Delivering Ocean Commitments

In the morning of Day 9, a High-Level event on “Delivering Ocean Commitments” put forward ocean-based climate solutions such as the Blue NDC Challenge and the Action Agenda Blue Package.  The challenge aims to promote ocean-based solutions to reduce greenhouse has emissions and enhance climate resilience. This event aimed to accelerate the adoption of initiatives by enabling countries to share their experiences relating to finance, capacity building, technology transfer, and partnerships around ocean-based actions.

The event also announced the Taskforce on Blue NDC Implementation which will be established by COP31. Its objective will be to foster coordination among countries and organisations and promote implementation of ocean commitments within NDCs.

As a result of this event, six countries joined the initial 17 countries committed to including the ocean in their updated climate plans. Measures as part of this initiative include the sustainable management, conservation, and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems using marine spatial planning, integrated coastal zone management, and the creation of climate-aligned marine protected areas.

Strengthening Synergies Across Land, Climate and Nature

The morning also saw the High-Level event for “Strengthening Synergies Across Land, Climate, and Nature”, bridging action agendas from COP16 (hosted in Columbia for the UN Biodiversity Conference in 2024) and COP30. Outcomes included:

• A Belem Joint Statement from the five current and future Presidencies of the three Rio Conventions (Brazil, Saudia Arabia, Colombia, Armenia and Mongolia) stating their commitment to mobilise non-state actors to promote synergistic action across climate, biodiversity, land, and people.

• Strengthened synergies and knowledge integration across Rio Convention Initiatives

• And renewed political momentum and multi-stakeholder commitment to resilience landscapes and ecosystems protection.

In the afternoon, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) discussed the roadmap to end deforestation. Kirsten Schuijt, Director General at WWF International, explained that the science is clear – aligning with the Paris Agreement is not possible without considering forests. We’re getting closer to a tipping point because of deforestation, beyond which forests might collapse. In turn this threatens biodiversity and carbon sinks we rely on for food production and carbon removal among other vital functions forests provide to humans. Schuijt urges COP to create two roadmaps: firstly, one focused on transitioning away from fossil fuels, and secondly a forest roadmap based on negotiated outcomes with real actions and implementation to curb deforestation.

The way we produce, consume, and throw away food is the biggest source for biodiversity loss. This means we need to reconsider our food systems within our roadmap.

More than 300 industrial agricultural lobbyists representing cattle farming, commodity grains and pesticides are present in Belem. Six have access to the UN negotiations where policies are discussed and agreed on. Therefore, part of what is necessary to achieve more sustainable food systems is pushing back against those lobbyists.

Small to Medium Enterprises – Building the Ecosystem for Scale

Besides ecosystems and biodiversity, discussions also highlighted the role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within climate action during the event “Building the Ecosystem for Scale”.

Some key results from the initiatives include:

• Over 7500 SMEs engaged to commit to net zero via the SME Climate Hub.

• The International Trade Centre enabled over 2000 SMEs and producer organisations to adopt climate-smart practices through digital trade tools and market access support through their Sustainable and Resilient Value Chain project.

• Access to green finance for SMEs is improved through the Bank for Net Zero (B4NZ), an initiative bringing together banks, businesses and regulators.

• Courageous Land helped 464 farms and 369 users across 157.300 hectares adopt biodiverse agroforestry systems to restore ecosystems, sequester carbon, and improve livelihoods.

Conscious Food, Conscious Planet

As we seek to protect ecosystems and secure our food systems, a powerful panel discussed the need for a “conscious food system”. A central message was the benefit of shifting toward plant-based diets which would directly reduce methane emissions, halt deforestation, and prevent land degradation.

Dr. Larissa Carreiro from the Plant Based Treaty emphasised that this is both a policy and moral issue, stating: “It takes ethical courage to make conscious decisions”. This message was reinforced by Sister Jayanti, Administrative Head of Brahma Kumaris, who argued that the welfare of people and planet – not profit – must be at the heart of food negotiations.

The panel agreed that the path forward requires a shift in our collective mindset.

Organisations have a role to play in educating people about the benefits of an ethical diet, and it starts with our schools. By choosing locally sourced, organic or regenerative seasonal plant-based foods, we can significantly reduce the stress on our planetary systems and reduce our environmental footprint.

While adapting our diets is key, this global effort must be met with an equally important shift within our food production. California leads the way in such a shift by adopting nature-based solutions to build soil resilience and in turn improve carbon sequestration. Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, spoke on the initiatives that California has been adopting.

For context, California is both a state and an agricultural giant able to grow a variety of 400 crops. It also leads the country in dairy production and produces more food by value than any other state. What is important in this case, is that this industry is not led by giant corporations, instead, 95% of its 63.000 farms are family-owned. Ross reinstated that they are aware of the responsibility that they have in protecting their soil to protect in turn the climate and its food system. This is why, California has been adopting climate-smart farming entirely based on science.

California has achieved thus through its Healthy Soils Programme which aims to help farmers and ranchers adopt practices that make soil stronger and more resilient. Ross explained the importance of this by highlighting the importance of protecting the microorganisms in the soil which are responsible for crop productivity and healthy foods. By protecting them, a list of benefits can be enjoyed:

• Accelerated carbon sequestration

• Water and nutrient protection

• And fewer inputs such as water and fertiliser.

Initiatives have included using biochar and biomass on cover crops to the soil surface, feeding the microorganisms and creating a rich, carbon-sequestering environment. This protects the soil for future generations.

It is also worth noting that California supported this programme by creating the demand and market for this. By creating programmes that connect this locally grown food to underserved communities and schools, they have shown the business case for climate-smart agriculture that benefits everyone.

Ross also took a few minutes to highlight that this does not come without its challenges: there are questions around maintain productivity without needing more land to make up for the decreased output from regenerative agriculture. The key, Ross emphasised, is continued research to ensure that practices remain effective to grow the same amount of food.

Therefore, California is a prime example that even an agricultural powerhouse can prioritise soil health, grow healthier food, and build more resilient communities while remaining the leader in the region.

Amazon Soy Moratorium (ASM)

Elsewhere in Brazil, decisions around the Amazon Soy Moratorium are not aligning with the discussions held at COP30. This agreement, founded in 2006, bans the sale of soya grown on land cleared after 2008, protecting the Amazon from further deforestation. The moratorium has been hailed as an environmental success story, but today it has been undermined by immense pressure from Brazilian agribusiness groups.

This voluntary agreement will, consequently, expire at the end of 2025. Starting in 2026, an area of the Amazon roughly the size of Portugal could be opened up for deforestation.

This crisis is in direct contrast with the negotiations in Belem. How can the focus remain on implementation and nature-based solutions when a proven and effective policy is being dismantled? The fate of the moratorium raises important questions: will we continue allowing short-term profit over long-term resilience and health?

Concluding Remarks

The day concluded with the Canadian Association of Physicians for The Environment (CAPE) urging nations to understand that by building resilient systems – natural, food, health, and more – we could save millions of lives per year. As mentioned in the Insight of Day 4, extreme weather events and degraded soils will lead to increased rates of disease and malnutrition around the world. It is therefore the responsibility of our leaders to do everything in their power to protect their communities by phasing out fossil fuels and adopting initiatives aligned with a 1.5°C pathway. Leaders should stop prioritising profit over the welfare of people and planet.

However, it is also up to us as individuals to create the demand and market for climate friendly produce. We must be part of the cultural and mindset shift that consumes more responsibly: prioritise a plant-based diet, eat locally, reduce waste, and encourage regenerative agricultural practices. Regenerative farming can’t happen without active support from consumers, which currently is nowhere near enough.

Climate Action for Associations (CAFA) are attending COP30 as official NGO Observer. This year we are attending in a virtual capacity, providing our members with direct reporting from the heart of the negotiations. We are committed to delivering daily insights and a comprehensive end-of-COP report to ensure you stay fully informed on the outcomes that matter to membership organisations and their members.

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