The Commonwealth at COP30

A Commonwealth Secretariat delegation of international climate policy experts will attend COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference or 30th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP30, will be held from 10-21 November in Belém, Brazil.

United Nations Climate Change | COP30 Brasil

Looking ahead

As Brazil strives to become a global leader in the low-carbon economy, it's COP30 Presidency will position the country’s sustainability taxonomy — a framework that defines criteria for classifying projects as sustainable — as the basis for creating international parameters. The measure aims to bring greater security to green investments and prevent misleading practices such as greenwashing.

As the Commonwealth we will continue to advocate for international finance institutions to be fit-for-purpose, calling for affordable, accessible, and sustainable climate finance in the face of climate change.

Small and other vulnerable states deserve more

Environmental risks and vulnerabilities are growing. Climate change is a key driver of this growth, bringing more frequent natural disasters, droughts, rising sea levels and loss of biodiversity.

These pressures worsen inequalities and lead to displacement, food insecurity and economic instability.

Across our Commonwealth — from small island states to major economies, the response to environmental resilience must be one of determination.

The Commonwealth Secretariat: Events at COP30

We need to step up cooperation and action

At COP30, we will advocate for our member countries, especially small and vulnerable countries, to have improved adaptive capacity and reduced vulnerability to climate shocks, expanded and equitable access to clean and affordable energy, and the ability to more sustainably manage their oceans and natural resources.

Our Strategic Plan 2025–2030, sets out a clear and practical vision of how our work will lead to impact, with environmental resilience one of our three main areas of focus.

The Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub

A real challenge to achieving net-zero is access to finance. Over the past ten years, our Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and our advisers, posted around the Commonwealth and embedded in government departments, have worked with government officials to unlock more than US$500 million in climate finance and trained almost 4,000 officials to strengthen skills and build increased capacity.

The Commonwealth Secretariat delegation will be:

following the negotiations

advocating for the interests of member countries, especially small and vulnerable states

exchanging knowledge and best practice

establishing and strengthening partnerships and networks, and

mobilising resources.

Our delegation will lead on and participate in several events at Commonwealth member country pavilions as well as at the Africa Pavilion, Moana Pavilion, NDC Pavilion and more.

On 12 November, the Commonwealth Secretariat will host its official side event titled Scaling inclusive climate finance: Delivering the US$1.3T Roadmap for People, Economies and Nature. Find the team at Side Event Room 8, UNFCCC Blue Zone. The event starts at 18:30 – 20:00 GMT-3.

The main hashtag to include in all posts is #CommonwealthForClimate

Social media accounts

Key messaging

Our key Commonwealth messaging that you can tailor for your posts:

The decisions and the initiatives we undertake now at COP30 can help to accelerate a future that is equitable and empowering - with small and other vulnerable states at the centre, not the margins. 
Across the Commonwealth, we continue to push for more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), including on blue carbon and marine renewable energy, so that we can get back on track to achieve the Paris Agreement and the critical 1.5°C goal. 
We work with our partners to mobilise climate finance so that our member countries get investment in renewable energy projects. This is how the Commonwealth leads the charge on unlocking the scale needed for a renewable energy revolution.

Introduction

Key messages, hashtags and links to share on social media during COP30, taking place from 11-22 November 2024.

COP30 glossary

Explore our glossary for a breakdown of common terms you will hear at COP30 - from the New Collective Quantified Goals (NCQG) to Loss and damage.

Download the COP30 glossary

Looking back

At COP29, we urged the international community to fulfil its promises to provide greater financial support to small island countries at the frontline of climate change.

This was also the rallying call at the very first Leaders' Summit of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS( on Climate Change, jointly convened by the COP29 Presidency and Commonwealth Secretariat.

Our official COP29 side event brought indigenous and local knowledge systems for Climate Action front and centre with a new short film that showcased the power of indigenous knowledge, especially when combined with Western science, to support sustainable livelihoods and economies in Guyana’s Iwokrama Forest. 

COP

Environment and climate change