Dhaka, Nov 18, 2025 (EP Desk) - Day 7 saw ministers begin to arrive in force and technical drafts move into more political terrain. According to the COP30 Morning Brief, the focus shifted to nature-based solutions, forests, Indigenous rights and adaptation, with more than 30 major announcements so far.
Key developments include:
• The Presidency finally circulated a draft consultation text covering several tracks, signalling movement.
• In the carbon-markets (Article 6) track, parties appeared to inch closer to adopting common crediting standards.
• On finance, a proposal for a “premium flyers” levy (a solidarity tax on high-emission travel) gained backing from a growing list of countries including France, Kenya and Spain. Analysts estimate such levies could cover 10-30% of the $1.3 trillion climate-finance target.
• However, despite these advances, major fault-lines remain: fossil-fuel phase-out language is unresolved, the scale of climate finance is still in wide bracket (hundreds of billions to over a trillion dollars), and adaptation and loss & damage modalities continue to lack firm commitments.
In short, while progress is visible, Day 7 underscores that the hard political decisions remain ahead. Technical convergence has begun but key political bridges are still missing.
Civil Society & Movement Highlights
Civil-society presence was a major feature of the day. A mass demonstration involving Indigenous groups, youth activists and rural communities drew tens of thousands onto the streets of Belém, bringing visible pressure to the conference.
Highlights include:
• Symbolic actions: protesters wore black (mourning fossil fuels) and red (honouring environmental defenders), marched 4 km and demanded urgent climate justice.
• Indigenous leaders and local community representatives emphasized that any credible roadmap must center their rights, territories and voices—not just emission?reduction metrics.
• Civil society statements demanded a “just transition” mechanism and real finance for adaptation and frontline communities; many voiced frustration that high-emitting countries still stall.
• The People’s Summit—the parallel gathering of social movements—continues to serve as a counterpoint to the official talks, emphasizing equity, sovereignty and community-led solutions.
These actions are shaping the tone of the talks. They remind negotiators that legitimacy and public trust rest on delivering not just technical fixes but socially just outcomes.
COP Presidency Briefing
At a press conference held Monday afternoon, the COP30 Presidency – led by André Corrêa do Lago – reiterated the summit’s shift from planning to implementation. Some key statements:
• “Week 1 delivered: more than 30 major announcements across energy, finance, culture and carbon markets,” the Morning Brief declared.
• The Presidency emphasized nature, Indigenous rights and local communities as “non-negotiables” in this phase.
• Lago stressed: “The game is played until the very last moment” – signalling that the remaining hours of the negotiations will be decisive.
• The Presidency urged ministers to engage now, warning that unresolved issues must not be pushed indefinitely.
However, during the briefing some observers noted tension: human-rights and Indigenous groups released open letters accusing the UN climate apparatus of heavy security measures around protests, and raised concerns about civil-society access.
Outlook & What to Watch
• With the technical drafts in place, the next 48-72 hours will hinge on political alignment—especially on fossil-fuel phase-out language and climate finance architecture.
• Will a just transition roadmap emerge with measurable commitments, or will it remain aspirational?
• Adaptation, loss & damage finance and Indigenous participation will increasingly shape public legitimacy of any package coming out of Belém.
• Side-events and protests continue to matter—not just as background noise but as political pressure points that may influence ministerial outcomes.
In conclusion, Day 7 of COP30 in Belém has brought intensified engagement, clearer draft texts and stronger civil-society voices—but major breakthroughs remain elusive. The summit is entering its decisive phase, and whether it delivers meaningful, fair and actionable results remains to be seen.
