Kathmandu: The world has turned its attention to Brazil’s Amazon rainforest — often called the lungs of the planet — as thousands gather for COP30, the annual UN climate summit. With climate impacts worsening, this edition of COP is being closely watched to see whether it delivers not just promises but accelerated, concrete actions.

Often referred to as a rainforest COP and an indigenous COP, the summit is being held in a region that is home to vast biodiversity and large indigenous communities. As the two-week event (Nov 10–21) reaches its penultimate day, negotiators are now moving into the political phase to finalize the outcome document.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell were among the key figures who addressed the first week. President Lula called COP30 the “COP of truth.”

A Decade Since the Paris Agreement

This year's conference carries added weight as it marks 10 years since the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. The past decade has brought mixed progress: rapid expansion of clean energy, rising sales of electric vehicles, and major investments in green technologies — including Nepal’s own EV-driven transport transformation.

Yet global failures remain stark. Biodiversity loss is accelerating, air pollution persists, and global temperatures continue to rise. Despite countries committing to update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every five years, efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C remain “slow off the mark.”

Scientists warn that overshooting the 1.5°C threshold is now highly likely.
“Even if new national commitments are fully implemented, the world is still heading for more than 2 degrees of warming,” UN chief Guterres reminded participants at a recent summit in Brazil.

Climate Denial and Uneven Responsibilities

Climate denial continues to challenge global action, even in wealthy nations historically responsible for high emissions. Poor and developing countries — including Nepal — bear the brunt of climate impacts despite contributing very little to the crisis.

The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities remains central. Vulnerable nations, from LDCs to small island states, continue to press rich and industrialized countries for accessible climate funding — especially for adaptation, loss and damage, and new financing goals.

Recent disasters in Nepal, including GLOFs and extreme weather events, highlight its growing vulnerability.

Nepal’s Engagement at COP30

Nepal’s delegation, led by Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr. Madan Prasad Pariyar, emphasized Nepal’s commitment to climate justice. Addressing the summit, he highlighted Nepal’s severe climate impacts — retreating glaciers, droughts, and unseasonal floods — and reiterated Nepal’s goals under NDC 3.0, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.

He called on developed countries to honor their commitments on climate finance.

A Defining Test for COP30

As the summit wraps up on Friday, two issues dominate the negotiations:
-Climate finance, especially support for vulnerable nations
-Fossil fuel phaseout, the core driver of the crisis

The world now waits to see whether COP30 delivers meaningful action from the Amazon — the lungs of the planet.