Analysis by Florence Colombo-Fouquet, ESG Vice President of ENGIE

The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP), held in Belém, Brazil, concluded last week. After two weeks of negotiations, the 195 Parties finally managed to adopt a joint declaration at the last minute. This compromise averted a formal failure, but it reveals significant diplomatic frustration at a COP that was intended to mark the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

Why was ENGIE at COP30?

To demonstrate that the energy transition is underway and that there will be no turning back. We also wanted to support an initiative launched by the Brazilian Presidency, aimed at giving biomolecules a real role in the energy transition, complementing green electricity. We can welcome the Belém 4X Pledge , an international commitment to quadruple the production and use of sustainable fuels (biofuels, biogas, hydrogen, e-methane) by 2035.  

This aligns perfectly with our strategy based on the alliance between electrons and molecules.

How did you experience those few days in Brazil?

There was a real sense of urgency among the countries present. President Lula had also chosen Belém as a symbolic location. On site, the effects of climate change are very tangible: it was 35°C and 80% humidity. As a French person, I realized just how difficult living there already is.

Why was this edition generally disappointing?

The Belém COP was held in an international climate marked by the absence of the United States. The Brazilian presidency led the negotiations but could not realistically reach a very ambitious agreement in the current context. Thus, the gradual phase-out of fossil fuels remains a point of deep disagreement among the various states. The European Union, several Latin American countries, the small island states, and the African Group openly regretted this lack of clear signals on phasing out oil, gas, and coal, believing that the Belém COP "missed its rendezvous with history" given that the 1.5°C target is now out of reach.

However, the Brazilian Presidency charted the course for the next COP, keeping this issue on the agenda for the 2026 discussions. It also secured an agreement on adaptation with the goal of tripling funding for this area by 2035.  

Has the "Amazon COP" led to progress in the fight against deforestation?

Here again, the result is mixed. The Evergreen Forest Fund was launched and raised $6.5 billion. But some countries consider this result insufficient and far from meeting the identified needs.  

What positive aspects do you see in this COP?

While Belém did not raise the overall level of ambition, COP30 did have some merits: it stabilized the multilateral framework; it launched the work on adaptation; and it established a structuring roadmap for COP31, 32, and 33.  

One notable advance concerns adaptation. Diplomats made progress on defining criteria to compare countries in terms of impacts and resilience levels, by assessing, for example, infrastructure, health systems, water, and agriculture. They called for a tripling of adaptation funding, but only by 2035, while several countries, including the African Group, were demanding 2030.

The technical modalities of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) remain contested and deferred to the interim sessions in Bonn in 2026.

Other major technical issues are deferred to the Bonn 2026 discussions: the monitoring of the global stocktake and the new trajectories that States must set for themselves by 2030 (the NDCs or nationally determined contributions).

In conclusion, what are your key takeaways from COP30?

Belém will be remembered as a COP of stabilization rather than transformation. A diplomatic failure was avoided, some fault lines were clarified, and new avenues were opened. But this COP did not provide a response commensurate with the climate emergency.

And what about ENGIE?

For ENGIE, as for all energy stakeholders committed to the transition, Belém confirms the importance of continuing to accelerate low-carbon solutions, strengthening adaptation, and actively contributing to the development of future NDC pathways in collaboration with governments. This COP also highlighted biomolecules (biofuels, biomethane, hydrogen, synthetic fuels, etc.) as one of the drivers of the energy transition, which is very important for ENGIE.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: ENGIE