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The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, has wrapped up. The overwhelming feeling at the end of the event is mixed. Addressing climate change is more important than ever and represents a financial and economic opportunity. While some players underline that there is still time to meet agreed climate goals, major outcomes weren’t delivered in the intersecting areas of climate policy, finance and nature protection. 

Early discussions backed by more than 80 countries saw fossil fuels included in drafts, but ultimately, a consensus was never reached, and the language stayed out of the final text. When it comes to finance, delegates were able to build on the new collective quantified goal (NCQG), with developed nations agreeing to deliver at least $300 billion per year for developing countries’ climate action by 2035. Moreover, COP30 doubled down on adaptation. The text successfully agreed to triple adaptation finance, rising to a commitment of $120 billion per year, supported by a list of 59 indicators.  

This year’s COP marked a decade since the Paris Agreement in 2015. While climate action continues to be a hugely important conversation on the global stage, the path to 1.5 degrees continues to narrow and may indeed be breached. Therefore, it is more important than ever for governments, regulators, businesses, and finance participants to be on the same page and pursue real-economy action and the implementation of COP30 outcomes to stave off the worst effects of climate change. 

Many of the Founding Partners attended COP30 and its surrounding event. Read some of their key takeaways below. 

AIGCC  

Anjali Viswamohanan, Director, Policy, Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC) said: 

“Discussions at COP30 around financing, forests, energy and resilience, which are pivotal issues for the Asian region where we need to see more momentum. Climate hazards are not a distant threat for Asia as they are already costing billions of dollars to economies. In parallel, there is an increasing appetite to seize the economic benefits that come with spearheading the transition. 

“Policymakers and investors have the ability and responsibility to act now. Asian markets are prioritising stronger collaboration to achieve tangible results. As we look toward COP31 taking place in Türkiye as well as future COPs, we aim to deepen collaboration and engagements with investors and policymakers so that implementation of fossil fuel phase down, adaptation finance, and planning for a just transition remain a priority.”  

Ceres    

Mindy Lubber, CEO and President of Ceres and Investor Agenda Steering Committee member, said:    

“Climate finance was once again at the center of global climate negotiations, and rightly so, as it is fundamental to achieving our shared goal of preventing the worst impacts of a changing climate. The promise to bolster funding to protect vulnerable communities is a good step, but the world must go further where it matters most — mobilizing significantly more investment in emerging and developing economies. It’s time for governments, investors, and private sector leaders to change the narrative from risk to opportunity, from emerging to growth.   

“Overall, world leaders fell short on delivering the outcome businesses and communities need to fully capture the benefits of the clean economy. Much more is needed to meet the moment. Addressing the intertwined risks of nature loss and climate change is no longer optional. The private sector must ratchet up investments in climate and nature solutions, and governments must return to next year’s climate conference with more concrete and ambitious national climate plans to ensure an equitable transition and a thriving global economy.” 

Read the full Ceres reaction here.    

IGCC 

Francesca Muskovic, IGCC Executive Director for Policy, said:

“Coming out of COP30 shows there’s a lot more work to do putting action into the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap; getting private capital into emissions reduction and adaptation.   

“In Brazil we also saw headwinds against further progress phasing out fossil fuels. But on the upside there are big opportunities heading into COP31 in Türkiye to strengthen green trading relationships especially between potential exporters of renewable energy and climate solutions like Australia and our existing trading partners right across the Pacific Rim.” 

IIGCC    

Arianna Griffa, Senior Policy Manager at IIGCC, Founding Partner of The Investor Agenda, said:      

“Overall, COP30’s outcome does not match the urgency highlighted in the latest science and NDC synthesis reports, nor does it fully answer the scale of the financing and policy shifts required. Yet within and beyond the negotiating rooms, the Action Agenda clearly demonstrated that momentum towards a decarbonised, climate-resilient economy is real, with investors, businesses and civil society showcasing practical solutions and seizing new opportunities. 

“IIGCC is proud to have contributed to the Action Agenda process in Belém and looks forward to build on the incremental but real advances at COP30 on adaptation, just transition, and roadmaps to continue advocate clear, accountable and investible policies that support investors in harnessing the opportunities of the transition.”  

Read the full IIGCC reaction here.   

PRI 

Nathan Fabian, Chief Sustainable Systems Officer at the PRI, a Founding Partner or the Investor Agenda, said:    

“The commitments of countries at this COP are clearly insufficient to stabilise global temperatures with the urgency required and warming will surpass 1.5°C. Overall ambition remains far too low, and delays and reversals in policy implementation continue to create material risks for investors. 

Even so, there is progress in essential areas. This year marked a step change in how investor views are sought on incentivising private finance, with PRI in Person in São Paulo serving as the gateway to COP30 for responsible investors. 

Discussions were grounded in the realities of financing the transition – especially in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) – thanks in part to more consequential engagement from finance ministries. We saw movement on innovative financing approaches, renewed attention to the quality and investability of NDCs, and clearer recognition of the climate–nature–social nexus.” 

Read the full PRI reaction here. 

UNEP FI       

Remco Fischer, Head of Climate for UNEP FI, and Investor Agenda Steering Committee member, said: 

“Amidst audible calls for reform of the COP process, including from within the UN itself, the outcome text celebrated the legacy and successes of Paris, Kyoto, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, while firmly planting the Paris Agreement in its nascent “implementation phase.” The Brazil Presidency has set the stage for what an “Implementation COP” can be, with big expectations for how Turkey and Australia can take the agenda forward next year at COP31. One thing is certain; there is plenty of action and opportunity for the finance sector to mobilize private finance towards investments that accelerate the transition to support greener and more resilient communities and economies.” 

Read the full UNEP FI reaction here.   

The Global State of Investor Climate Action  

Just days ahead of COP30, the Founding Partners of Investor Agenda published new research into the Global State of Investor Climate Action. The report reveals that the investors surveyed are taking a range of actions to integrate climate risks and opportunities into investment, corporate engagement, policy advocacy, and disclosure practices. However, significant gaps remain, and regional disparities in ambition, action, and transparency risk undermining global progress on managing climate-related financial risks and opportunities.  

One of the outcomes from COP30 was the Belém Action Mechanism, which requires countries to take concrete steps towards a just transition. It’s encouraging to see delegates move towards agreement here, especially since efforts across different sectors and geographies has been variable to date. This was highlighted in the Global State of Investor Climate Action research, which found that just over a third (36%) of investors surveyed disclosed just transition considerations in their investment strategy in their public disclosures. When it comes to regions, Africa-based investors were leaders, with 90% of investors providing specifics about their view of a just transition. And while disclosures in Asia were less likely to mention a just transition, interviews for the report made it clear that it is a key concern there.  

It remains clear that addressing climate change and ensuring continued progress requires action from investors, governments, and other stakeholders. You can learn more about our report from its authors and investors at an upcoming webinar on 29th January 2026. Click here to sign up.