COP30 in Belém ended on 22 November with a mixed result. Delegates agreed to mobilise US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to support climate action. The package pledges to double adaptation finance for vulnerable countries by 2025 and to triple it by 2035.
The summit had a short disruption when a fire forced evacuations on 20 November and several people were treated for smoke inhalation. More than 80 countries backed Brazil’s roadmap to phase out fossil fuels, but the final text only asks for “transitioning away from fossil fuels” without timelines or concrete steps. Discussions will continue before COP31.
Difficult words
- funding — Money provided for a specific purpose.
- adaptation — Adjustments to improve a situation.
- vulnerable — At risk of being harmed or affected.
- agreement — A mutual decision or understanding.
- advocates — People who support a cause or plan.
- progress — Forward movement towards a goal.
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Discussion questions
- Why do you think some countries didn't agree on fossil fuels?
- How can increasing funding help vulnerable nations?
- What adaptations do you think are important for climate change?
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