Prof. Radermacher’s Travel Report on COP30 in Belém

Belém was a historically and geographically fitting host city for COP30. Nevertheless, the atmosphere was less positive than at previous COPs: key heads of state were absent, the number of pavilions and the level of media presence were reduced, and the conference itself attracted little attention in Brazil. The outcomes have been widely regarded as disappointing. The one positive development was the commitment to triple funding for climate adaptation by 2035. Compared with COP29 in Baku, however, there was little progress on international climate finance.

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell strongly emphasised the need for international cooperation. National unilateral approaches, particularly those pursued by the EU, are regarded as ineffective. The final declaration remained largely devoid of substance and, for the most part, consistently failed to take account of changing global conditions and key political realities.

Prof. Dr Dr Dr h.c. F. J. Radermacher, Director of FAW/n, used his participation in COP30 as an opportunity to produce an extensive travel report containing a wealth of background information. Before publication, the text was further expanded and refined in a number of places. These additions include, for example, information on the situation concerning cannibalism in Brazil (see footnote 18), as well as an expanded and detailed account, in the concluding chapter, of Michael Evertz’s round-the-world journey by bicycle, undertaken as an ambassador for global cooperation.

The full report can be downloaded as a PDF via the link provided in the preceding paragraph.