As the momentum picks up at COP30, it is expected that the talks would move beyond mere rhetoric. With the temperature rise breaching the 1.6°C threshold since the Paris Agreement signed nearly a decade ago, the credibility of multilateral climate action hangs in the balance.
COP30 2025 is being widely seen as the “Implementation COP”, where pledges made in earlier summits must finally be translated into measurable progress, and expectations include a framework grounded in accountability.
With Brazil’s leadership under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva bringing renewed attention to climate justice and calling for a $1.3 trillion annual climate-finance goal for developing nations, the message being sent is clear – without certain and equitable funding, developing economies cannot accelerate energy transition or strengthen adaptation systems.
India has consistently emphasised fairness and trust as the foundations of global cooperation. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav’s reminder that climate justice is not charity, it is moral responsibility, resonates with the sentiments of many developing nations as they seek at COP30 genuine partnership and not patronage.
At the same time, economies like India and China are reshaping global expectations through scale and execution. India’s commitment to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2070 demonstrates clear intent to align growth with sustainability.
Similarly, China’s goal of 3,600 GW of wind and solar capacity by 2035 shows what can be achieved when political will and long-term planning converge. One hopes that COP30 will fuse such momentum into collective action, linking ambition with accountability. These examples underline that emerging economies are more than mere participants in climate dialogue; they are drivers of its implementation.
Finance, equity and credibility are the three elements driving the pre-COP discourse. While finance retains top priority, promises without delivery have eroded trust. The established target of $100 billion a year from developed nations has already been rendered obsolete by the magnitude of current challenges. Nevertheless, steps must be taken to lay down a transparent mechanism to mobilise and track the proposed trillion-dollar annual flow.
Equity here assumes equal significance, and developing countries should not be forced to choose between growth and green transition. Climate policy must consider and align with the developmental realities of nations still struggling with poverty, urbanisation, and energy access.
Credibility will be a key driver of success or failure of COP30. The general sentiment is that lofty declarations are hollow and no longer enough. Expectations seek concrete measures on fossil-fuel phase-outs, biodiversity credits, adaptation frameworks, and carbon-market integrity.
Another major expectation is that of a shift away from negotiation and towards empowerment of communities most affected by climate change to co-create and shape solutions.
Whether one agrees or disagrees with UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ warning that humanity is now hearing a “warning siren,” not a distant alarm, it seems true that the next 10 to 15 years would be a crucial period to contain global warming within manageable limits, otherwise the challenge may well cross over into irreversible territory.
Radhika Kalia is MD at RLG Systems India Pvt Ltd.
