COP30 climate conference: Future of the Belem plan in jeopardy!

COP30 climate conference: Future of the Belem plan in jeopardy!

Today, November 9, 2025, the 30th UN Climate Change Conference began in the Brazilian city of Belem. The date falls on the tenth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, which forms the global framework for climate protection. The conference comes in a context of growing urgency as reports from the UN and experts show that global efforts to limit global warming are falling short of set targets. According to Kleine Zeitung, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized in his opening speech that the world has not achieved the Paris Agreement's target of limiting global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Advancing global warming is reflected in an increase in natural disasters that are causing devastating damage to both the environment and economies. The conference aims to work on new ways to effectively combat the climate crisis and promote global cooperation under the motto “Mutirão”, which means joint effort. Although the Paris Agreement is considered a success, progress to date has remained insufficient, as highlighted in the article by n-tv. The agreement, signed by 195 countries during COP21 in December 2015, aims to keep global warming "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, ideally at 1.5 degrees.

Global challenges

However, the current situation shows that the 1.5 degree target is increasingly seen as unattainable. According to the Federal Environment Agency, states must submit new, ambitious national climate protection contributions (NDCs) every five years in order to make progress. However, the latest Emissions Gap Report shows that the measures taken so far are not sufficient to achieve the temperature targets.

Governments around the world, including the United States under re-elected President Donald Trump, are increasingly confronted with domestic challenges that often take precedence over necessary action on climate change. The right-wing nationalist movements in many countries have triggered demographic changes, but the focus on rearmament and economic stability often leads to the climate issue being neglected.

Despite these challenges, progress is being made. The share of renewable energy in global energy growth has increased sharply, and the share of electric cars in new vehicles rose from 1% in 2015 to 20%. Additionally, countries such as India and China intend to become carbon neutral by 2060 and 2070 respectively, indicating a growing shift in mindset.

Austria's contribution to the climate conference

Austria's Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen will not attend the conference, a sign of the inconsistent participation of European countries in the crucial negotiations. However, Environment Minister Norbert Totschnig from the ÖVP is expected in the second week of negotiations to support Austria's contribution to global climate goals.

In conclusion, while the successes of the Paris Agreement are celebrated, the path to a sustainable future will be long and often fraught with obstacles. Guterres and other leading voices underscore the urgent need to work together globally to address the climate crisis and achieve agreed goals.