BOISmag 232

COP or flop?

In November, the 30th Conference of the Parties on climate change—more simply known as COP 30—took place over fifteen days in Belém, on the edge of the Amazon rainforest. While holding the event at the gateway to the world’s largest forest initially seemed promising, its sometimes chaotic proceedings, the presence of far too many pro–fossil fuel lobbyists, the notable absence of several heads of state, and divisions among certain countries amid economic, environmental, and geopolitical tensions severely undermined the already slim hopes of reaching a meaningful and committed agreement, as well as of proposing clear and structured roadmaps to put an end to deforestation and fossil fuels by 2030.

At a time when our planet is experiencing unprecedented climate upheaval and when forests—tropical and temperate alike—are suffering, the “parties” are more divided than ever. After fifteen days of heated negotiations, and despite high expectations from the Brazilian government, an agreement was ultimately reached. But it was a far from ambitious one, merely preserving the core of the text adopted at COP 21: “France regrets the low level of ambition of the final text on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. “The sum of the contributions does not put us back on a sufficient trajectory to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Under these conditions, France and the European Union ensured that the essentials were preserved, ten years after the historic adoption of the Paris Agreement.”

With regard more specifically to forests, an “advance” did nevertheless emerge with the ratification of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) (which will be the subject of a detailed article in our next issue). This unprecedented forest fund, unveiled by President Lula on November 6, proposes an innovative financing mechanism “to incentivize long-term, large-scale forest conservation.” Praised by some but criticized by several NGOs, who see it as large-scale monetization of tropical forests, the fund has already received nearly 7 billion dollars in pledged donations and aims to mobilize up to 125 billion dollars for the preservation of tropical forests and Indigenous peoples. A first encouraging step—but a “small” one in the face of the immense climate challenge confronting our planet. And nothing in sight for our temperate forests!

Water levels and temperatures are rising, forests are burning or declining, populations are being displaced, and extreme weather events are multiplying… The urgency is undeniable, and COP 31, to be held in less than a year in the Turkish capital, will have to do better and adopt decisions commensurate with the scale of the situation.

Adèle Cazier