At the 30th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Belém, Brazil, in the heart of the Amazon, South-South and triangular cooperation emerged as essential enablers of climate ambition, with developing countries taking leadership on nature-based solutions, innovation, and climate finance.
COP30 delivered a wide-ranging package to scale up climate finance and accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement, setting new expectations for strengthened national plans, expanded support for adaptation, and faster delivery of resources to the most vulnerable.
Countries agreed on ambitious financial targets and mechanisms – advancing loss-and-damage funding, operationalizing facilities for forests and resilience, and increasing investment in nature-based solutions – while stopping short of a collective commitment to transition away from fossil fuels. The outcome reflected a strong emphasis on solidarity and delivery, underscoring that progress on mitigation, adaptation, and resilience will depend on sustained cooperation, predictable finance, and the translation of science into action.
What Was at Stake in the COP30 Negotiations?
UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the critical role of developing countries working together to advance climate action. “We must support developing countries through stronger cooperation, investment and technology transfer, calibrated to different capacities and dependencies, so that they can pursue climate solutions, build resilience, and foster sustainable development,” he said during the opening plenary of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit.
Delegates confronted a global trajectory in which the 1.5°C goal was slipping further out of reach, even as science showed that rapidly scaling ambition remained possible with coordinated action. Countries were expected to table strengthened national climate plans (NDCs), close implementation gaps identified in the Global Stocktake, and advance long-pending decisions on climate finance – particularly for adaptation and the most vulnerable nations.
Critically, many leaders emphasized that progress would depend on enabling frameworks such as South-South and triangular cooperation, which had become essential for mobilizing finance, sharing technologies, and advancing just transition pathways tailored to developing-country realities.
China, Brazil, and other leading Global South nations showcased their commitment to climate-focused South-South initiatives. Highlights included China’s support through South-South climate cooperation funds, Brazil’s leadership in forest conservation and energy transition initiatives, and the South-South Collective for Climate, which aims to support over 5,000 climate startups across Africa, Latin America, and South Asia by 2030. Together, these efforts demonstrate how Southern countries are building shared standards, sustainable business models, and autonomous leadership in global climate governance.
A key breakthrough at COP30 was coordinated action to protect mangroves, peatlands, and saltmarshes – critical ecosystems that store carbon and enhance resilience to climate impacts. In this regard, sessions were organized and supported by UNDP, the UNFCCC Secretariat, and governments including Brazil and Indonesia. New financing facilities and science-based targets are being deployed to transform ambition into action in the real economy.
By linking nature-based solutions with tangible financing and targets, COP30 demonstrated the transformative potential of South-South cooperation. Developing countries are increasingly able to translate their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) into measurable outcomes, advancing climate mitigation and adaptation while promoting poverty eradication, health, and decent work.
Scaling Solutions
The Climate-Proofing SMEs Campaign and the South-South Collective for Climate, organized by UNDP and the China-UN Development Partnership Fund, highlighted how small businesses and startups are rapidly deploying climate solutions. These initiatives show how knowledge-sharing, technology transfer, and capacity-building accelerate the implementation of clean energy, climate-resilient agriculture, and nature-based approaches.
Innovation from the Global South – ranging from renewable energy transitions in Africa to nature-based adaptation projects in Latin America – is being scaled and replicated across regions, demonstrating that South-South cooperation can turn ambition into practical, measurable results.
Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD)
The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), was established at COP 27 in Egypt in 2022 and was operationalised at COP 28 in Dubai. It is a fund to deliver money to developing countries and the communities within them to address loss and damage.
On the first day of COP 30, the FRLD launched the call for funding requests for its start-up phase – the Barbados Implementation Modalities (BIM).
COP30 marked a pivotal leap for the FRLD, launching its first activities and opening applications for loss and damage funding through the Barbados Implementation Modalities, advancing global climate finance policy from promise to delivery for the most at-risk communities.
Coalition for Sustainable Wood
COP30 also saw the launch of a global coalition on sustainable wood, convened by FAO and the World Resources Institute, which unites governments and industry to decarbonize construction while protecting forests.
This initiative exemplifies triangular cooperation, linking governments, civil society, and private sector actors. By connecting policymakers, innovators, and communities, South-South and triangular collaboration is unlocking the potential of home-grown knowledge and technologies, delivering both environmental protection and economic growth.
Agricultural Emissions
A South-South platform to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture was launched by ministers from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, coordinated by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).
This platform enables countries to co-create solutions for high-emission sectors while enhancing food security and resilience. South-South peer-to-peer knowledge exchange accelerates the deployment of best practices, translating climate ambition into tangible, scalable impact across regions.
Forest Finance and Land Restoration
Brazil, in partnership with UNDP, unveiled the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), a blended-finance mechanism mobilizing over US$5.5 billion to tropical forest nations. At least 20% of funds are earmarked for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, embedding solidarity-based finance into global climate architecture.
A COP30 side event organized by the African Development Bank and the 11 countries of the Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall highlighted efforts to restore degraded lands across the Sahel. South-South collaboration, supported by blended finance and peer-to-peer networks, is central to scaling these restoration initiatives effectively.
COP30: A Turning Point for Implementation
COP30 reaffirmed that South-South and triangular cooperation are critical for delivering climate action and a just transition. Through inclusive, people-centered partnerships, countries of the Global South are driving a new era of climate solidarity – protecting ecosystems, empowering communities, and ensuring no one is left behind.
South-South cooperation emerged at COP30 as a practical avenue for advancing implementation, with countries using shared knowledge, technology exchanges, and solidarity-based financing to move from commitments toward measurable progress. While significant gaps remain, these efforts are supporting more equitable pathways for mitigation and adaptation across the Global South.
