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The COP30 Presidency released its second official letter on Thursday (May 8), continuing the tone set in the first document, in which President André Corrêa do Lago called for a “global climate effort.” The letter advances the global mobilization agenda, detailing how climate action will be operationalized and providing a clearer picture of the COP governance structure. Although the proposed model emphasizes global proactivity, it is to be activated through a series of initiatives where dialogue and network engagement play a central role.
The upcoming Climate Week in Panama is highlighted by ACL as a “milestone in the collective mission,” reinforcing the idea of a movement built on the proliferation of autonomous initiatives around the world. In this spirit of invitation, the Climate Conference leadership calls on everyone to get involved in some way, emphasizing that all stakeholders are welcome: “The COP30 Presidency extends an open invitation to all members of the human family: come as you are and as you can be. Within the framework of the Global Effort, all will be welcomed—regardless of level of engagement, expertise, or perspective,” he wrote.
However, one key player remains noticeably absent from this collective call—for now. Despite being a central topic in recent COP negotiations and decisions, the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) is not mentioned. While the letter praises the low-carbon economy as a desirable goal and alludes to a “transition to the future,” there is no strong encouragement or clear ambition, targets, or implementation pathways for phasing out fossil fuels. The climate’s biggest villain is conspicuously avoided. Given the urgency of the climate crisis and the proximity of COP30, Brazil’s leadership must activate all available political tools to address this most difficult and essential issue.
On a more positive note, the letter corrects some key omissions that were criticized in the previous statement. This time, ACL explicitly acknowledges the role of ethnic minorities, especially when emphasizing the importance of the Peoples’ Circle: “ensuring that these critical perspectives inform and enhance international climate solutions, with respect for their rights and a commitment to fighting racism and environmental inequalities.”
An NDC for Everyone
In line with the logic of global mobilization—encouraging all stakeholders to unite for climate action—the letter promotes the idea of setting individual and small-scale mitigation goals. In parallel to the NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) that signatories of the Paris Agreement submit regularly to outline their emission reduction commitments, the letter states that “within the Global Effort framework, individuals and organizations are encouraged to present ‘self-determined contributions.’” In other words, companies and institutions are being invited to define their own strategies and targets for reducing carbon footprints.
“To be brought to life, the Global Effort requires a new approach—one in which the COP30 Presidency acts as a vehicle to inspire others’ capacity to act. Across all areas of life—governments, civil society, the private sector, and individuals—everyone is invited to lead with concrete autonomous actions,” it says.
A (New?) Global Governance Model
Though not yet detailed, the letter also hints at a new model for global climate governance. Without diminishing the role of the UNFCCC, ACL emphasizes the need for a new dynamic to accelerate efforts and address multilateral challenges, ensuring that current tools don’t become obsolete in the face of the scale and complexity of the climate emergency.
“It is high time to start reflecting on ways to strengthen global governance in order to exponentially speed up the implementation of the Paris Agreement and support the decision-making processes and mechanisms of the UNFCCC from an intergenerational perspective. Climate change demands that we innovate toward new models for new challenges, as outdated assumptions quickly lose relevance in an exponentially changing environment—one in which solutions also emerge exponentially, both in evolution and impact. Tropical forests and the internet stand out as inspiring examples, where complexity and diversity contribute to greater dynamism and adaptability,” he writes.
ACL’s contribution reinforces the perception that global climate governance must move beyond annual large-scale events like the COP. A broader vision is required. “Moving away from outdated bureaucratic models that hinder speed and scale, debates at the United Nations General Assembly could explore innovative governance approaches that empower international cooperation with tools for fast data sharing, knowledge exchange, and collective intelligence. Such approaches could also boost networks, coordinate efforts, and align resources, processes, mechanisms, and actors within and beyond the UN system. Innovations in international cooperation could focus on alignment—bringing together currently scattered efforts—while preserving and even strengthening the UNFCCC’s role in negotiating, coordinating, and setting climate-related international legal frameworks.”
The document closes with a hopeful and ambitious message for COP30:
“Let us imagine that, in 2028, the world will remember 2025 not just as a year of negotiation, but as the moment of global alignment—when governments, communities, companies, and institutions came together to change the course of humanity’s relationship with the planet. A year to be remembered as the dawn of a new cycle of cooperation, innovation, and prosperity around the globe.”
In the next letters, the COP30 Presidency promises to detail the action agenda, formal negotiations, and the leaders’ summit, respectively.
