The flagship climate event was hosted over two weeks in Brazil’s port city, Belém, where world leaders, business representatives, and activists gathered to negotiate the global actions needed to combat climate change. 

 

1.  Nationally Determined Contributions Update

What happened?

122 countries have now submitted new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), an improvement from 2024 but still nowhere near ambitious enough. Collectively, these pledges only put us on track for a 12% emissions reduction by 2035, when the science says we need 57%. Denmark and the UK stood out with world-leading targets of 82% and 81% reductions by 2035, respectively. Meanwhile, the EU agreed a new collective NDC of between 66% to 72% by 2035 and 90% by 2040 with 5% allowance for carbon credits.

What does this mean for business?

These NDCs will likely lead to stricter national policies on emissions reductions, energy use, and sustainability, placing regulatory pressure on large organisations. Businesses that act now will avoid regulatory shocks later and gain competitive advantage as supply chains and investors demand alignment with 1.5C pathways.

 

2.  Global Mutirão - Five-Year Action Agenda

What happened? 

COP30's Global Mutirão Action Plan laid out six themes and 30 implementation actions ranging from energy transition to agriculture, human and social development, finance and tech, and building resilience for cities. This was one of the most ambitious attempts to mobilise governments and non-state actors. Nevertheless, it failed to include roadmaps for fossil fuel and deforestation phase-out, despite over 80 countries (including the UK) backing it. Instead COP30 has sidestepped the issue in its final text and throughout the negotiations, falling back on soft UAE Consensus language about an "orderly transition".  One tangible outcome was the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), securing $6.7 billion in governmental commitments to protect tropical forests, though far short of the original $25 billion target.

What does this mean for business? 

The Global Mutirão signals where future policy, investment and public-private partnerships will head. Companies in energy, transport, agriculture and finance should expect new programmes, roadmaps and standards to emerge from these themes. For example, the EU's Deforestation Regulation, already taking effect, requires companies to prove their products are deforestation-free before entering European markets and now other countries are exploring similar policies. Nonetheless, the lack of immediate policies means that momentum will depend on corporate initiative, those who act early will set the benchmarks so don't wait around!

 

3.  Adaptation and the Just Transition

What happened?

Adaptation gained overdue attention at COP30, with a pledge to triple adaptation finance by 2035 and new delivery through the Belém Action Mechanism (BAM) under the Just Transition framework to support a fair and equitable transition. The Belém 4x Commitment, aims to quadruple sustainable fuel use by 2035, was also positioned as part of broader resilience and energy diversification. Yet again, adaptation funding remains far short of what's needed, with just $26 billion delivered annually against an estimated $310 - $365 billion required by 2035.

What does this mean for business?

Adaptation is becoming a core investment priority. Companies should anticipate climate risks shaping supply stability and operational continuity. Initiatives under BAM and the Belém 4x Commitment suggest growing focus on climate-resilient energy and fair workforce transition.

 

4.  Indigenous Peoples and Land Rights

Dubbed "the Peoples' COP", it was genuinely uplifting to see Indigenous peoples' presence so strongly felt throughout COP30, especially in the protests and flotillas. Their continuous leadership and strength serve as a powerful reminder that these summits aren't just men and women in suits talking numbers, climate change is lived and deeply interconnected with people, land and rights. Only a dozen countries pledged to recognise land rights across 80 million hectares of tropical forests by 2030, backed by $1.8 billion, the first global commitment of its kind. Despite this visibility, many Indigenous groups felt shut out of formal decision-making, meaning COP30 fell short of really being "the Peoples' COP".

 

Summary

COP30 outlined a decisive path forward: enhanced accountability, greater resilience, and accelerated transition across industries. Planet Mark works with organisations to turn these global priorities into practical strategies and measurable progress through its Net Zero Certification Programme. For those reassessing climate strategies in the wake of COP30, Planet Mark’s team is ready to provide guidance and support for the next stage of your journey - talk to an expert today.