By Alfred Zacharia
As world leaders, scientists, and climate advocates gather in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the focus is once again on whether global commitments can finally match the scale of the climate crisis.
COP30, which runs from November 6 to 21, 2025, comes at a decisive moment — 30 years after the first COP in Berlin. It marks a turning point in global climate diplomacy, shifting from ambitious promises to the harder task of delivering measurable action.
The Birth of a Global Climate Forum
The UNFCCC, adopted in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, laid the foundation for global cooperation on climate change. It recognized the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” acknowledging that while all nations must act, developed countries bear the greatest historical responsibility for emissions.
The first meeting of the Conference of the Parties — COP1 — was held in Berlin, Germany, in 1995 under the presidency of Angela Merkel, then Germany’s environment minister. That gathering produced the Berlin Mandate, which paved the way for legally binding commitments on emissions.
Two years later, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted at COP3 in Japan, marking the world’s first binding treaty on greenhouse gas reductions. It required industrialized countries to cut emissions by an average of 5 percent below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. Although a landmark achievement, its limited participation — notably the withdrawal of the United States — exposed deep divisions over responsibility and equity.
From Kyoto to Paris: Expanding Global Participation
The next two decades saw growing recognition that a fragmented system would not suffice. Developing countries, led by the G77 and China, pushed for greater inclusivity and support for adaptation.
The defining breakthrough came at COP21 in Paris (2015), where nearly every nation agreed to the Paris Agreement — a universal, legally binding framework for climate action.
Under the agreement, countries submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) outlining their own emission reduction and adaptation plans, reviewed and strengthened every five years.
The Paris Agreement also set a collective goal: to keep global temperature rise “well below 2°C” while striving for 1.5°C, a threshold scientists say would avert the most catastrophic climate impacts.
For the first time, developing nations such as Tanzania gained a structured role in global climate planning, linking national policies — including forest conservation, renewable energy, and resilience programs — to international mechanisms for finance and technology.
The Era of Implementation
While the Paris Agreement established the framework, recent conferences have focused on implementation.
COP28 in Dubai (2023) produced a historic decision to “transition away from fossil fuels” and triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.
This was followed by COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan (2024), where negotiators reached a consensus on tripling climate finance for developing countries.
The new financial commitment aimed to mobilize more than $300 billion annually by 2030, strengthening adaptation and just transition efforts in Africa and other vulnerable regions.
These advances underscored a growing shift: from negotiation to accountability. The debate now centers not on what must be done, but how and who will finance the transition.
Brazil’s Vision for COP30
Now, as the global community converges in Belém, on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, the world’s attention turns to Brazil’s presidency, led by Ambassador André Aranha Corrêa do Lago.
Brazil has branded COP30 as the “COP of Implementation” — a forum to measure progress on past commitments while amplifying the role of forests, indigenous communities, and developing nations.
The Amazon’s symbolism is intentional. Hosting the summit in Belém — a city deeply intertwined with forest economies and indigenous heritage — sends a message that climate action must integrate people, nature, and justice.
Africa’s Strategic Stake
For Africa, including Tanzania, COP30 represents an opportunity to push for fair climate financing and equitable access to technology.
African negotiators have consistently argued that the continent contributes less than 4% of global emissions but faces the worst consequences of climate change.
Through the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), member states are pressing for more predictable finance flows for adaptation — particularly in agriculture, energy, and water management — sectors central to Tanzania’s economy.
Tanzania’s ongoing initiatives, such as scaling up renewable energy and protecting natural ecosystems, align closely with COP30’s priorities. Experts note that the country’s strong record in sustainable tourism and forest conservation, including through the REDD+ program, positions it well to benefit from global forest finance mechanisms like the one proposed by Brazil.
A Moment of Reflection
From Berlin to Belém, the evolution of COPs tells a story of persistent struggle, progress, and unfinished work. What began as a diplomatic experiment in 1995 has become the world’s most inclusive forum for environmental governance.
Yet, despite three decades of negotiations, global emissions remain near record highs, and 2025 is on track to be the hottest year ever recorded. Scientists warn that the world must cut emissions by at least 43% by 2030 to keep the 1.5°C goal alive — a task that demands urgent, collective action.
As COP30 unfolds, the real test will be whether governments can transform pledges into measurable results — scaling up renewable energy, protecting forests, and empowering vulnerable communities to adapt.
If the past 30 years have been about building consensus, analysts argue, the next decade must be about delivery. For nations like Tanzania, success at COP30 will depend on how global cooperation translates into local resilience, green investment, and inclusive growth.