As COP30 approaches, the global spotlight is once again on climate action. With leaders set to convene in Belém, Brazil, this summit marks the beginning of a critical new chapter: implementation.
The Brazilian Presidency has framed COP30 as the ‘Implementation COP’ – a decisive moment where the focus must shift from setting goals to delivering results. This transition is embedded in the structure and ambition of the COP30 Action Agenda.
For the financial and related professional services, this shift creates a strategic opportunity to take the lead in delivering practical solutions that advance nature-positive and climate-resilient outcomes.
Why COP30 is a turning point
The COP30 Presidency has made clear that this summit is about action. Building on the Global Stocktake (GST), COP30 will serve as a launchpad for a new phase of climate delivery.
- The Presidency has reframed the GST as a ‘Globally Determined Contribution’. A collective roadmap for implementation that goes beyond national governments and extends across sectors and borders.
- The COP30 Action Agenda is structured around six thematic axes and 30 measurable objectives, supported by activation groups and a Granary of Solutions to scale proven interventions, with a focus on transparency, accountability and real-world impact.
Key focus areas for the UK financial and related professional services industry
a. Climate finance: Attention will be on a credible Baku to Belém roadmap that sets out a pathway to mobilise $1.3trn per year in public and private climate finance for developing countries by 2035. We can expect COP30 to push hard on turning finance pledges into real flows. Focus will be on blended finance to de-risk private capital and ‘investable’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to translate national plans into bankable projects.
Public finance alone cannot meet the $1.3trn goal. COP30 is expected to spotlight private capital mobilisation and the role of innovative financial instruments to catalyse finance at scale.
TheCityUK will be calling for governments to work with the private sector to co-create financial instruments that will be effective in de-risking and channelling investments into climate solutions.
b. Scaling nature-based investment: With the Amazon as the backdrop, nature will be at the heart of COP30. We can expect an integrated approach, reflecting the growing consensus that climate and biodiversity goals cannot be met in isolation. Forests will be a key focus, with Brazil expected to launch the flagship Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) – a blended finance mechanism to provide long-term, performance-based funding to tropical forest countries for conserving their forests.
We will be advocating for greater recognition of the interconnectedness of climate and nature and the role of nature-based solutions in strengthening climate resilience and mitigating transition risks.
c. Operationalising carbon markets: After finalising the rulebook for Article 6 at COP29, attention will be on operationalising the global crediting mechanism and ensuring market integrity and interoperability. The UK is well positioned to lead by championing best practices, supporting international collaboration and leveraging the expertise of the UK financial ecosystem.
TheCityUK will be highlighting the UK’s leadership potential and the importance of collaboration to strengthen coherence of the market and ensure a harmonised international effort to raise integrity.
COP30 represents a strategic inflection point in the international climate process. The transition from negotiation to implementation requires bold leadership, innovative finance, and cross-sector collaboration.
The UK’s financial and related professional services industry will be an important voice at COP30 and has a unique opportunity to shape and support this new chapter of climate action.
TheCityUK will be on the ground in Belém, highlighting the important role our industry plays in supporting climate action, tracking key developments, and identifying opportunities for our industry to contribute to climate solutions.
