The Brazilian COP30 Presidency announced today the launch of Presidency Consultations to advance the debate around key issues in preparation for the climate conference. In his sixth letter to the international community, the COP30 President Designate, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, stated that this process aims to ensure that the collective work is grounded in an inclusive, transparent, and predictable process.
Presidential Consultations typically start in the second week of the climate conferences and have proven to be an effective approach for addressing issues of high political profile, as well as deadlocks in technical discussions. By starting them months in advance, the COP30 Presidency aims to foster an environment conducive to open dialogue, transparency, and trust-building.
In addition to mandated issues such as the Global Goal on Adaptation, the Just Transition Work Programme, and the UAE Dialogue on implementing the Global Stocktake, the consultations will cover topics raised by Parties during the Bonn meetings that are not covered under formal agenda items. The process will be carried out in coordination with the COP29 Presidency and the Chairs of the Subsidiary Bodies.
Among these issues is the response to the aggregate of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and the synthesis report to be published by the UNFCCC in October, which will show how far we still are from 1.5°C. The letter urges countries to submit their NDCs on time to be reflected in the synthesis report — as of August 19, around 75% of Parties have yet to come forward with new 2035 NDCs.
“No action is a stronger demonstration of commitment to multilateralism and to the climate regime than the NDCs our countries present”, wrote Corrêa do Lago. “If the image shown by our integrated NDCs turns out disappointing, it is our collective responsibility to convert it into a picture that will ensure a livable planet, protect all economies, and improve living standards and life opportunities for all peoples, for all generations – a picture that will make our children proud, relieved, and hopeful for their own future.”
The COP30 Presidency has also heard expectations regarding topics such as the Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T; synergies among climate, biodiversity, desertification, and sustainable development; as well as the implementation of global calls for efforts to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation, and to accelerate the global energy transition.
Consultations will start in the coming weeks with an on-line session with all countries. Two subsequent in-person incoming sessions will take place on September 25th, in New York, and on October 15th, in Brasília, during Pre-COP. Online sessions with all Parties, admitted observers, and constituencies will be held after each in-person incoming Presidency Consultations. More detailed information will be published soon by the Secretariat.
