A Virtual Observers Guide to COP30
the 2025 UN Climate Conference
A website written by Frank D Granshaw in cooperation the Quaker Earthcare Witness observer delegation to COP30
A website written by Frank D Granshaw in cooperation the Quaker Earthcare Witness observer delegation to COP30
Taking place Monday 10 November to Friday 21 November in Belem Brazil
Information about the conference
COP30 is short for the 30th Conference of the Parties to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The UNFCCC is an international treaty and process aimed at combatting dangerous human interference with the earth's climate system by stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
Almost every year since 1995 the 198 signatories to the treaty have met to work out the details how to accomplish its original aim. Because the UNFCCC is also a process, several major agreements have emerged. The most noteworthy of these being the Kyoto Agreement (1997 - which set legally binding for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions) and the Paris Agreement (2015 - which set a goal of keeping the increase in average global temperature in 2100 to no more than 2°C while making strong effort to keep that increase to as close to 1.5°C as possible).
Each year, UNFCCC signatories meet in several preparatory meetings (SBs or Subsidiary Body) culminating in a larger year end meeting (COP or Conference of the Parties). This year's meeting is in Belem Brazil near the mouth of the Amazon River.
The core priorities for this year's COP include...
Accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement through more ambitious national committments in emission reduction, adaptation, and climate finance.
Translating the findings of the first Global Stocktake into accelerated action.
Implementing a Just Transition work plan.
Links to General Information about COP30
Official UN COP30 Website ---------- Official COP Presidency (Brazil) Website
About being a virtual observer
In addition to negotiators, UN officials, and support staff, many UN treaty meetings also include observers. Simply put, an observer is a representative of a civil society organization who are present to witness negotiations, represent their communities, and bring back to those communities what they learn. Observers can be present at negotiations but generally can not participate in them. Observer groups often organize side events and press conferences, and in many instances participate in public demonstrations supporting or objecting to trending policy.
A note about civil society: Civil society organizations include environmental organizations, service clubs, faith communities, trade groups, industry and business representatives, tribal nations and indigenous groups, youth groups, etc. etc. Admitted NGOs - A UNFCCC secretariat web page talking about observer groups.
Becoming an onsite observer is often complicated and time-consuming because the number of people who can attend a meeting is limited by the resources available at the meeting site. It also tends to expensive to be an observer because of the cost of travel, lodging, food, etc. The number of observers at COPs have grown significantly since the UNFCCC treaty was signed into force nearly 33 years ago. At the same time the need for increasing this number has also grown because of the need to foster society wide support for and involvement in climate action. Unfortunately it is increasingly apparent that it is becoming physically impossible to accommodate more observers at meeting sites.
Fortunately, with more meeting events being broadcast over the internet, it is becoming much more common for civil society observer groups to be hybrid, with a few of its members attending UN climate events in person, while a larger portion of the delegations participate virtually. In addition to reducing the stress on conference hosts, this arrangement reduces the costs for observer delegations, and provide the delegations with ways of more quickly and readily engaging their own communities in the issues presented in the meetings.
A note on remote observers: For several years now the UN has been credentialing what they call virtual-only observers. These are observers who have access to meeting digital platform containing schedules with links to recorded and live-streamed meeting and a variety of networking tools. A great many of the recordings are available via the UN YouTube channel, meaning that it is still possible to keep up with COP30 and other UN climate meetings without being credentialled virtual observer.
About this website
This website exists to provide all those in the general public wishing to observe events related to COP30 with a gateway for accessing recordings of meetings, press conferences, negotiations, and other events happening during the conference. It is being written as COP30 evolves. So it will be growing throughout the week and a half of the conference, and will continue to grow for a while after it is done.
In addition to links to official UN on-line resources, it will also include notifications of events by civil society groups, as well as recording of events by those groups and new agencies.
Questions, comments, and suggestions should be directed to Frank D. Granshaw at < fgransha@gmail.com >
Links to events and other on-line resources
Preconference resources and events
COP30: A Visual Guide - A infographic the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit
COP30: Your Guide to the 2025 UN Climate Conference - A guide from Nature Conservancy
COP30 Announcement Tracker: Key Announcements from the 2025 UN Climate Summit - On-line news article from EESI (Environmental and Energy Study Institute)
COP30 Belem: Turning Promises into Action - Globalissues.org
COP30 Resources - Environmental and Energy Study Institute
COP30 unpacked: Why and How Belem could be a Turning Point for Climate Adaptation - Stockholm Environmental Institute
Forging Africa's path to COP30 and beyond - Institute for Security Studies
Moments that Paved the Path to COP30 - An infographic from State of the Planet News from the Columbia Climate School
NAP Global Network at COP 30 - National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network
Path to COP 30 - World Resources Institute
Q&A: COP30 could - finally agree - how to track the "global goal on adaptation" - CarbonBrief
State of Climate Action in 2025 - World Resources Institute
UN Conference Engagement Guides - Justice Coalition of Religious
'We are asking the world to act': African women on frontlines of climate change demand justice at COP30 - A news article from the National Catholic Reporter
What's at Stake for Climate Change Adaptation at COP30? - International Institute for Sustainable Development
Who wants what at COP30 - CarbonBrief
United Nations Climate Change (UNCC)
and COP30 presidency resources, events, and daily summaries
UNCC YouTube Channel (Upcoming and recorded channels)
UN Climate Change events / Recorded - A source of recorded events from COP30 and earlier UNCC meetings.
COP30 Briefs from the Brazilian Presidency from COP30 Brazil News
20 November (Th) - Morning summary
19 November (W) - Evening summary / Morning summary
18 November (Tu) - Evening summary / Morning summary
17 November (M) - Evening summary / Morning summary
15 November (Sa) - Evening summary / Morning summary
14 November (F) - Evening summary / Morning summary
13 November (Th) - Evening summary / Morning summary
12 November (W) - Evening summary / Morning summary
11 November (Tu) - Evening summary / Morning summary
10 November (M) - Evening summary
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Steill's opening speech at COP30 - A video recording from UNCC
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell's closing speech at COP30 - UNCC news article
President Lula Opens COP30 in Belem with an urgent call to action - A video recording from TeleSUR
Summaries from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
From International Institute for Sustainable Development Bulletin - Video: What to expect at COP30
UNFCCC Belem events page - Gateway to events and summaries
22 November - Highlights and Images
21 November - Highlights and Images
20 November - Highlights and Images / Daily report
19 November - Highlights and images / Daily report
18 November - Highlights and images / Daily report
17 November - Highlights and images / Daily report
15 November - Highlights and images / Daily report
14 November - Highlights and images / Daily report
13 November - Highlights and images / Daily report
12 November - Highlights and images / Daily report
11 November - Highlights and images / Daily report
10 November - Highlights and images / Daily report
From Carbon Brief
Topic related resources and events
Actions taken to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions to limit future warming
Climate Mitigation
Actions taken to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions to limit future warming
Introduction to Mitigation - UNCC information page
Where Do Emissions Come From? 4 Charts Explain Greenhous Gas Emissions by Sector - An article from the World Resources Institute
Climate Adaptation
Climate adaptation = Adjustments in ecological and economic systems in response to expected climate changes
Adaptation and Resilience - UNCC information page
Loss and Damage - UNCC Information page
Climate Finance and Economicss
Climate finance = Local, national, and multinational financial resources to support mitigation and adaptation
Introduction to Climate Finance - UNCC information page
Just transition and climate equity related resources and events
Just transition = Transitioning to a low carbon, sustainable economy while supporting worker affect by the transitions.
Climate equity = Everyone benefitting from climate protection while ensuring that unequal burdens from climate impacts are alleviated.
What is just transition? And why is it important? - United Nations Development Program news story
Climate change is a matter of justice - here's why - United Nations Development Program news story
Pavilions
Exhibits within the Bue Zone - An exhibit area at the COP campus open to all registered conference attendees
UNFCCC Listings of COP30 Pavilions
Highlighted Pavilions
Africa Paviion - A space hosted by the six African and UN economic groups. Contains links to livestream and recorded presentations from the Pavilion.
Digital Innovation Hub - A showcase of emerging tech for the implementation of the UN SDGs and the Paris Agreement. Contains links to recorded and livestream presentations from the pavilion.
Planetary Science Paviiion - An exhibit / meeting space dedicated to the science driving the COP30 agenda. Presented by a coalition of 16 organizations.
Responding to Climate Change: COP30 Agenda - Responding to Climate Change Limited is an educational nonprofit based in London England. The COP30 Agenda page links to video recordings of talks given at the Pavilion in Belem.
Science for Climate Action Pavilion - A exhibit / meeting space dedicated to climate science. The homepage for this site has a link to livestream events being held at the pavilion. Organized by a coalition of five organizations that include the IPCC and the WMO (World Meteorologic Organization).
The Solar Hub - Information about and videos from the International Solar Alliance pavilion at Belem and past COPs.
SLOCAT at COP30 - Information about and from the Partnership on Sustainable Low Carbon Transport pavilion at Belem.
World Wildlife Federation Pavilion - Links to livestream presentations held at the WWF pavilion in Belem. WWF Climate and Energy YouTube Channel. Contains recordings of presentations from the pavilion and past COPs.
Resources and events from Educators
Window into COP30 - A Minnesota based climate education organization (Climate Generation) that regularly sends youth delegation to the COPs
Global Systems Science (GSS) curriculum materials - Free high school geoscience materials that looks extensively at climate systems. From Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkely
Teachers COP - An online event for teachers from the Office for Climate Education (related to UNESCO)
Resources and events from Faith Groups
A Call to Action towards COP30 (World Council of Churches)
Christian Climate Observers Program (CCOP) 2025 - A non-denominational Christian precense at COP30 and training program for observers.
COP30: Connecting Global Advocacy to Local Climate Action - News article on the Lutheran World Federation delegation to COP30
Faith Based Side Events at COP30 - A listing of side events at the conference organized by faith groups. From Interfaith and Climate Change
Faith Leaders gather for "Peoples COP" - An article from Premier Christian News about a conference being held in tandem with COP30
Global Jewry Declaration to COP30 - A declaration from 13 Jewish environmental groups.
Interfaith Talanoa Dialogue - Organized by Interfaith and Climate Change
Interfaith Call to Climate Action - An article on the Interfaith Liaison Committee to the UNFCCC from Quakers and Climate Worldwide
Loretta Community to COP30 - Links to a virtual delegation from The Congregation of the Sisters of Loretta
Lungs of the World - A campaign of the Anglican Communion. This campaign has a delegation to COP30.
Pre-COP30 Ecumenical Faith Leader's Press Conference - World Council of Churches new release
Quaker Youth UN Ambassador Program (Quaker Earthcare Witness)
Stay up to date on COP30 - An article in the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement Newsletter
Taking action for COP30: Guided by Faith, Acting for Justice - Islam and Climate Change from Ummah for Earth
The Laudato Si' Movement at COP of Hope: Turning Faith into Hope and Action
Postconference summaries
Beyond the Headlines: COP30's Outcomes and Disappointments - Summary from World Resources Institute
CarbonBrief's final "Ask Us Anything" COP30 webinar - Video summary from CarbonBrief
COP30: Key Outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Belem - Summary from CarbonBrief
COP30: What was agreed upon - A summary video from the The Hindu
COP30 conclusions "insufficient to tackle climate change, say scientists, NGO's - News article from Clean Energy Wire
COP30 is Over: Here are Five Main Outcomes From the Climate Conference - A summary video from the Wire
COP30 outcome: Slow progress, but insufficient to meet climate crisis urgency - Summary from the European Parliament
Final summary report from IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development)
What are the key takeaways from the COP30 climate summit? - A summary from video from France 24 English
WCC Statement on Proclaiming Jubilee for People and Planet: Reflections on the the Outcomes of the COP30 an d the G20 Leaders' Summit - A statement from the WCC (World Council of Churches) Executive Commitee meeting in Hangzhou, China, 20-25 November 2025
Created 4 November 2025
Modified 26 November 2025