The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) opened today in Belém, Brazil, with a strong call from global leaders to speed up the global shift toward renewable energy as the key driver of climate progress and economic opportunity.
In his opening address, Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change, declared that the world is finally “bending the curve of planet-heating emissions downwards – for the very first time,” crediting the rapid rise of renewable energy as a decisive factor.
“Renewables are now cheaper than 90% of all fossil fuels,” Stiell said, highlighting that renewable investments have not only overtaken fossil fuels but that clean power has also surpassed coal to become the world’s top energy source this year.
According to the latest Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted under the Paris Agreement, global emissions are projected to fall by 12% by 2035, compared to previous trajectories. Stiell described this as a “big deal,” but cautioned that far more ambitious action is needed to meet the 1.5°C goal.
“Yes, our progress is real – but it’s not nearly enough,” he warned. “The costs of delay are skyrocketing. We must accelerate in the Amazon.”
The UN climate chief stressed that clean energy represents “the greatest economic opportunity of this century,” citing comments from Chinese President Xi Jinping that “clean energy is the trend of our time.” Stiell added that more and more nations now view renewables as a “jobs jackpot,” capable of delivering prosperity alongside decarbonization.
Brazil’s COP30 Presidency Sets Collaborative Tone
Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, Brazil’s Ambassador and President of COP30, opened the conference with gratitude for the global cooperation that enabled agreement on the summit’s agenda late last night.
Calling the start “a wonderful opening” marked by Indigenous and cultural performances, Corrêa do Lago emphasized the importance of collective effort in tackling climate change.
“This agreement will allow us to start working very intensively,” he said. “It will also allow us to explain to the world why these additional issues really matter.”
While his remarks focused on unity and process, Corrêa do Lago’s comments set the stage for Brazil’s presidency to highlight renewable energy as a pathway for both social inclusion and sustainable growth — especially in the Amazon region, where the COP is taking place for the first time.
A Turning Point for Clean Energy
COP30’s opening messages converge on a shared theme: that renewable energy is now the engine of global climate ambition. The transformation of energy markets — once viewed as a distant aspiration — is becoming irreversible, driven by technology, policy, and economic incentives.
With record-low costs for solar and wind power, and unprecedented investments flowing into green industries, negotiators in Belém face a clear task: to turn this momentum into deep, sustained emission cuts and equitable benefits for all.