Four years ago, at COP26, 145 countries endorsed pledged to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. Yet, as COP30 approaches, nature’s destruction continues largely unchecked. With Brazil hosting COP30 in Belém in the Amazon, has raised expectations for a turning point. But nature won’t come out on top without deliberate action.
COP30 can reignite global efforts to protect and restore nature, but world leaders must act now to get us back on track for ending deforestation by 2030. Here are five ways to make COP30 ‘The Nature COP’.
Diplomacy and Brazil’s Moment to Shine
The U.S. retreat from climate leadership has left a void, making COP30 a pivotal moment for multilateralism and climate action. In response, COP30 President André Corrêa Do Lago has urged nations to embrace bold engagement and cooperation, proposing ideas to make COP30 more action-oriented.
Brazil is uniquely positioned diplomatically to lead a new coalition for nature. As COP30 President and former G20 chair, it is championing a “socio-bioeconomy” model with strong global support from peers. Brazil recently convened global tropical forest nations and developed countries to advance this vision, but success depends on world leaders fully engaging with ambition and trust in cooperation at COP30. As President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized at the United Nations last year, “multilateralism is the only way to overcome the climate emergency.”
Scaling Up Finance for Forests
At COP29, nations pledged $300 million per year for climate efforts in developing countries—a fraction of the $1.3 trillion these nations requested. With nature receiving just 3% of climate finance, this remains insufficient. Scaling nature finance is critical, and promising new approaches need support to mature by November.
Brazil is leading two initiatives to leverage natural capital towards these goals. Launching at COP30, the Tropical Forests Forever Facility will be a fund that could unlock $4 billion annually for forest conservation if enough government support unlocks private investment to hit its $125 billion goal. Meanwhile, the Brazil Restoration & Bioeconomy Finance Coalition, backed by countries and financial institutions, seeks to raise $10 billion by 2030 to protect the Amazon.
Beyond governments, private sector finance must step up. “The Race to Belém” launched by Silvania and NGO partners, aims to mobilize billions in private investment for forests. Meanwhile, the Innovative Finance for the Amazon, Cerrado and Chaco is working to mobilize $10 billion in private and blended finance by 2030 for deforestation free agriculture.
Carbon markets present another key opportunity. If project methodologies are finalized at COP30, they could become a “powerful tool to scale up mitigation efforts to achieve their NDCs.” Brazil is also introducing discussions on a multilateral carbon market to build on this momentum. Strengthening confidence in voluntary carbon markets will expand high-integrity, jurisdictional REDD+ investments, unlocking new financial flows—if world leaders engage.
Strengthening Country-Level Action with Nature-Based Solutions
In Belém, countries will present their 10-year emission reduction plans through their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). So far, only 13 countries submitted new 2035 NDCs, many of which fail to capitalize on potential contributions from natural climate solutions.
If nations are serious about tackling emissions, forests and nature-based solutions must be central to their NDCs—not just referenced. Targets should align with the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration goals set at COP26 to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. But COP30 should also go beyond NDCs. Leaders should break from past COP limitations and pursue bold international agreements that “go beyond the predictable,” strengthen global cooperation and reshape the UNFCCC’s approach to climate action.
Linking the Bioeconomy, Forests and Cities
COP30 can also succeed for nature by tackling the climate challenges faced by cities. The building and construction sector is responsible for 11 percent of global climate emissions, and with the construction of a city the size of Paris being built around the world weekly through 2050, construction must shift from climate liability to climate solution.
Sustainable wood products as part of broader circular bioeconomy strategies can make this possible. A world in which cities are built largely with sustainable bio-based materials is not a utopian fantasy; it is a necessity if climate goals are to be met. Public and private sector leaders should join Brazil to advance these frameworks at COP30 by aligning forest restoration efforts with the G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy and the 2024 Chaillot Declaration where 70 countries committed to decarbonizing the built environment. With Brazil hosting the ministerial meeting of the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate at COP30, now is the time to push for a forest-positive, material-neutral approach.
Recognizing the True Guardians of the Forest
Indigenous Peoples safeguard much of the world’s biodiversity, supporting $44 trillion, over half of global GDP, for the world’s economy. Yet, their territorial rights are often ignored, and access to climate finance remains severely limited. World leaders must deliver a landmark commitment to recognize Indigenous land tenure rights at COP30 —not as symbolism, but as a legal framework to protect forests and strengthen Indigenous leadership.
Brazil has championed this issue, with Minister of Indigenous Peoples Sônia Guajajara sharing, “Those who protect the environment the most… receive less than 1% of environmental funding… COP30 needs to move forward on this.” Indigenous leaders are making their case through ‘A Resposta Somos Nós’ (‘The Answer is Us’), a COP30 campaign highlighting their vital role in climate solutions. With only months left, world leaders must unite to ensure we secure land tenure rights and proper Indigenous participation at COP30.
Keeping our Resolutions for Forests and Climate in 2025
Like New Year’s resolutions, forest commitments have often been easy to make—but far harder to keep. COP30 must embed accountability into climate governance, ensuring ambitious targets are backed by funding, policy reforms, transparent tracking mechanisms, and legal frameworks.
Recent political turmoil has widened gaps in international diplomacy, climate finance, and NDC ambition, making COP30 even more critical. Despite these challenges, this summit could still be a turning point—if leaders act decisively and act now. COP30 represents the best chance to ensure that forests and nature are fully integrated into climate solutions. The world cannot afford another empty promise.
