Environment

COP30 faces challenges of waning corporate enthusiasm and Indigenous inclusion amid new forest financing initiative

Friday, 14 November 2025 5:04AM UTC

As COP30 opens in Brazil, concerns mount over diminishing corporate commitment and political hurdles, while innovative forest conservation funding offers a glimmer of hope for anti-deforestation efforts and Indigenous engagement.

As the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change convenes in Belém, Brazil, this November, significant concerns are emerging about the waning enthusiasm for climate action, particularly within corporate boardrooms of wealthier nations. André Corrêa do Lago, the president of COP30, has warned that the momentum to combat climate change in richer countries is fading. This sentiment echoes findings in the latest report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which highlights a disturbing trend: despite the rising presence of sustainability committees on corporate boards and the inclusion of sustainability performance metrics in executive compensation, the overall effectiveness of such measures remains limited.

The OECD report draws attention to the critical issue that only 8% of global patents are green, signalling a sluggish pace of innovation in climate and environmental technologies necessary for a credible transition to sustainability. Without stronger incentives for green research and development, and mechanisms to share technological advancements, the risk is that companies will remain locked into incremental rather than transformative environmental change. This underscores a vital challenge: governance structures that are largely symbolic will fail unless they are backed by measurable outcomes and a genuine integration of sustainability into core strategic decision-making.

Further complicating the corporate landscape is the political backdrop. The OECD data collection mostly predates the return of Donald Trump to the White House, an administration that early research suggests has contributed to increased "greenhushing", a reluctance by companies to openly communicate their environmental efforts, even if only a minority have scaled back such initiatives. This political climate fuels fears that global efforts to accelerate the climate transition, including those championed at COP30, could not only stall but potentially reverse progress.

Meanwhile, COP30 in Brazil carries a heavy agenda that goes beyond corporate inertia. The conference is designed to accelerate global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C and review the fulfilment of finance pledges from previous meetings. Brazil is leveraging its role as host to assert diplomatic leadership on climate issues, notably by presenting the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF). This initiative offers a novel financing model that pays developing countries for conserving tropical forests on a per-hectare basis, with penalties for deforestation and degradation, while ensuring funds are dedicated to protecting biodiversity and Indigenous territories. Brazil's commitment includes a $1 billion investment into this facility, aiming to support over 70 countries and usher in a new era of forest restoration and resilience.

The presence of Indigenous peoples at COP30 adds another critical dimension. Indigenous groups, whose stewardship of forests is vital for global climate regulation, have faced challenges such as restricted access to the Blue Zone, the main conference area, due to passport requirements. Many Indigenous leaders do not possess passports, leading to tensions and protests under the rallying cry "Nothing about us without us." Efforts by the Brazilian government to waive access restrictions for certain sectors were unsuccessful, highlighting ongoing barriers to Indigenous inclusion. Meanwhile, partnerships between organisations like the Environmental Defense Fund and Indigenous representatives from Kenya, Ecuador, and Brazil are amplifying Indigenous voices in climate finance discussions, advocating for meaningful engagement in policy design.

The tension between the urgency of climate action and the practical realities at COP30 illustrates sharply the struggle to reconcile ambition with implementation. While structural initiatives such as green innovation incentives and forest conservation funds are promising, questions remain about corporate commitment and political will, especially in wealthier nations where enthusiasm appears to be fading. Without a renewed focus on measurable impacts and equitable inclusion, global climate efforts risk stagnation at a moment when acceleration is most needed.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (The Guardian) - Paragraphs 1, 3, 6, 7
^[2] (OECD) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3
^[3] (UN) - Paragraph 4
^[4] (Brazil Government) - Paragraph 5
^[5] (Environmental Defense Fund) - Paragraph 6
^[6] (World Economic Forum) - Paragraph 5

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/13/as-cop30-meets-climate-is-slipping-down-the-boardroom-agenda - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.oecd.org/corporate/board-sustainability-committees-executive-pay-sustainability-performance-metrics.htm - The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has highlighted a concerning trend where climate change is losing traction in corporate boardrooms. Their latest report indicates that while there is an increase in the establishment of board sustainability committees and the inclusion of sustainability performance metrics in executive compensation, the effectiveness of these measures remains limited. The report emphasizes the need for stronger incentives for green research and development to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/cop30 - The 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) is scheduled to take place in Belém, Brazil, from 6 to 21 November 2025. The conference aims to ignite a decade of acceleration and delivery in addressing climate change, focusing on efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C and reviewing progress on finance pledges made at previous COP meetings.
https://www.gov.br/secom/en/latest-news/2024/12/cop30-brazil-works-to-consolidate-diplomatic-leadership-in-climate-agenda - Brazil is actively working to consolidate its diplomatic leadership in the climate agenda ahead of hosting COP30 in Belém. The country has presented the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), aiming to pay developing countries that conserve their tropical forests. The initiative provides payments per hectare of standing vegetation, with penalties for deforested or degraded hectares, and ensures additional resources for the protection of biodiversity and traditional territories.
https://www.edf.org/cop30 - The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is collaborating with Indigenous partners from Kenya, Ecuador, and Brazil to support their work at COP30. The initiative focuses on amplifying Indigenous demands to make climate finance accessible and advocating for Indigenous engagement in designing climate policies and solutions. This partnership underscores the critical role of Indigenous peoples in climate action and the importance of their leadership in environmental stewardship.
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/11/cop30-new-era-of-forest-restoration-and-resilience/ - The World Economic Forum reports on COP30 ushering in a new era of forest restoration and resilience. Brazil has committed $1 billion to the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, aiming to safeguard ecosystems vital for climate regulation. The facility seeks to support over 70 developing countries with tropical forests, promoting a new financing model for conserving these critical environments.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/13/as-cop30-meets-climate-is-slipping-down-the-boardroom-agenda - An opinion piece in The Guardian highlights concerns that climate change is losing momentum in corporate boardrooms. The article references André Corrêa do Lago, president of COP30, who suggests that enthusiasm for combating climate change is waning in wealthier countries. It also discusses the OECD's report indicating that while there is an increase in board sustainability committees and the inclusion of sustainability metrics in executive pay, the effectiveness of these measures remains limited.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative is current, published on November 13, 2025, and pertains to ongoing events at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. No evidence of recycled or outdated content was found.

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: Direct quotes from André Corrêa do Lago and the OECD report are unique to this narrative, with no prior instances found online. This suggests original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative originates from The Guardian, a reputable UK-based news organisation known for its journalistic standards.

Plausability check

Score: 10

Notes: The claims align with recent developments at COP30, including concerns about corporate commitment to climate action and the effectiveness of sustainability committees. The narrative is consistent with other reputable sources covering similar topics.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is current, original, and sourced from a reputable organisation. The claims are plausible and consistent with other reputable sources. No significant credibility risks were identified.

COP30
Climate Change
Indigenous Rights