COP30 climate talks focus on mitigation and renewables

As the world prepares for the upcoming COP30 climate conference, The Gambia’s lead negotiator on mitigation, Malang Sambou Manneh, stresses that technology is essential for reducing greenhouse‑gas emissions. The conference, scheduled for 10‑21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, is intended to be people‑centered and inclusive, with a strong emphasis on mitigation and climate financing.

Manneh calls for a unified Global South to lead by showcasing best practices in renewables and presenting viable alternatives to fossil‑fuel development. He points to the Mitigation Work Programme, created by the UNFCCC at COP26, as critical for scaling up global mitigation efforts. Unlike previous meetings, COP30 will focus on closing the ambition gap identified by the Global Stocktake—a periodic review of collective progress toward climate goals. The first stocktake, completed at COP28 in 2023, showed that current efforts are insufficient and that the world is off track to meet the Paris Agreement.

According to Manneh, the global community cannot curb fossil fuels merely by labeling them harmful; it must do so through technology and demonstrable alternatives. He notes that, for the first time on record, renewable uptake surpassed coal generation in the first half of 2025, with solar and wind outpacing demand growth. As Western leaders turn inward to address domestic challenges, the Global South is expected to provide much‑needed leadership at COP30. Manneh sees opportunities for developing nations to take the lead, especially as scientific evidence of climate impacts mounts.

The World Meteorological Organization projects continued record‑high global temperatures, increasing climate risks and potentially marking the 2025‑2029 period as the first five‑year stretch of unprecedented heat. The recent deadline for new national climate‑action plans—intended to guide COP30 discussions—has passed, with Paris‑Agreement signatories submitting more ambitious emission‑reduction and adaptation targets. Manneh emphasizes that ambition has never been lacking; the real obstacle is implementation, which cannot proceed without financing.

COP30 is expected to drive action that supports both environmental and economic growth, highlighting the critical role of tropical forests and nature‑based solutions. The conference will aim to push scalable solutions and enforceable commitments, focusing on accountability rather than merely setting new goals.