Ten years after Paris: A pragmatic path forward at COP30
Monday, November 10th marks the opening of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Belém, Brazil— and with it, the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. A decade after the world came together and set a shared goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C, the international community faces a markedly different geopolitical landscape.
Global conflicts, trade tensions, and supply chain disruptions have reshaped alliances and challenged the spirit of multilateralism that underpinned the Paris Agreement. At the same time, the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and retreat on climate leadership underscores the growing uncertainty around international alignment on climate ambition and implementation, even as climate impacts continue to worsen worldwide.
Yet amid these challenges, the world has made real progress. Emissions projections are down, the carbon intensity of the global economy has continued to fall, innovation is accelerating, and climate action is increasingly tied to human welfare and development. At COP30, the task is not to rekindle old divisions but to channel this progress toward smarter, fairer strategies that improve lives while cutting emissions.
This year, the Brazilian presidency has set three priorities for COP30: strengthening multilateral cooperation, linking climate action to people and the economy, and accelerating implementation. COP President André Corrêa do Lago has called for renewed trust in global collaboration and tangible progress on national climate plans, as only 64 nations out of 195 parties have submitted climate plans (Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs) according to the UN’s NDC Synthesis Report published last week. Brazil is also emphasizing delivery on past commitments— such as tripling renewable energy capacity and transitioning away from fossil fuels— and highlighting the role of nature and forests with the launch of its Tropical Forests Forever Facility.
Against this backdrop, the central question for COP30 is not whether the world remains committed to climate action, but how governments can deliver progress amid competing economic and political pressures. Clean Air Task Force (CATF) has long used COP as a vital forum to advocate for an expanded set of solutions that drive innovation across the full suite of clean energy technologies and climate solutions. We believe pragmatic climate action—grounded in innovation, flexibility, and regional context—is key to addressing the full scope of the climate challenge.
By coupling near-term mitigation efforts with long-term investments in diverse clean energy solutions, countries can strengthen their economies, enhance energy security, and expand access to affordable, reliable power. At this year’s COP, CATF will work with policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to demonstrate how pragmatic, innovation-driven, and regionally sensitive approaches can turn these goals into reality.
Climate and development can’t happen in isolation
As world leaders gather in Brazil, one of the most pressing questions facing negotiators is not only how quickly to cut emissions, but how to align climate ambition with economic development and human well-being.
Forthcoming analysis from CATF examines the relationship between African countries’ climate commitments (NDCs) and their long-term development plans (National Development Plans, or NDPs). Drawing on 52 NDCs and 98 NDPs from 2003 to 2023, the study finds persistent gaps between the two. NDCs tend to focus on emissions reductions in sectors such as energy and agriculture—often shaped by international climate priorities—while NDPs emphasize employment, poverty alleviation, and economic growth. This disconnect risks undermining both frameworks’ agendas: climate action that overlooks development can stall progress, while development planning that ignores climate risks will prove unsustainable in a warming world.
Complementing this analysis, recent modeling from CATF explores how different net-zero timelines could reshape Africa’s energy, land, and water systems—and, by extension, its development trajectory. The results underscore the challenge policymakers face in balancing the urgency of early climate action with the near-term economic and social costs it can entail. Faster pathways to net zero deliver earlier climate benefits but require greater upfront investment and can strain food and water systems, while slower transitions ease those pressures but delay emissions reductions and heighten long-term risks.
Together, these findings show that Africa’s climate decisions are, at their core, development decisions. Aligning climate ambition with socioeconomic priorities will be critical to advancing sustainable and equitable progress. As countries continue to submit their updated NDCs under the Paris Agreement at COP30 and beyond, greater coherence between these frameworks will be essential to achieving durable, inclusive climate outcomes.
Accelerating short-term action on methane
Methane is one of the most potent climate pollutants, responsible for roughly half a degree Celsius of warming we are experiencing today. Reducing methane emissions is also one of the fastest ways to slow warming in our lifetimes. The Global Methane Pledge is/was an explicit/important recognition of this opportunity, and CATF has been deeply involved in supporting countries in developing practical strategies to meet their commitments since the Pledge’s inception. Effective reduction will depend on practical, evidence-based policies and actionable tools that can be implemented today.
Agriculture accounts for 40% of all human-caused methane emissions, making it the largest source globally. Because of the sector’s outsized climate impact and its importance to food security and livelihoods, the Brazilian COP presidency has elevated agriculture as key focus of this year’s negotiations. CATF’s work in this space ranges from policy engagement to convening stakeholders across the livestock sector to identify gaps in research and policy. Through these efforts, CATF drives the adoption of regionally appropriate technologies and practices by farmers, building on existing finance mechanisms and pressing for innovative new ones to close critical gaps.
Nearly two-thirds of the world’s top fossil fuel methane emitters are developing countries, many of which are seeking guidance on regulatory frameworks and capacity-building. The Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP), a partnership between the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC and CATF), offers a framework for countries to tackle methane from oil, gas, and coal production. FFRP supports up to 20 governments by helping them design and enforce policies such as repairing leaks, ending routine venting and flaring, and improving operational oversight. These measures are often low-cost but deliver outsized climate benefits, making them critical for meeting the Global Methane Pledge target of a 30% reduction from 2020 levels by 2030.
Methane from waste is another major, yet frequently overlooked, source of emissions. Solid waste management is the third-largest contributor to anthropogenic methane, responsible for roughly 20% of global emissions, with most emissions coming from organic material decomposing in landfills and dumpsites. Without targeted action, these emissions are projected to rise alongside urban growth and development.
Tools like the Waste Methane Assessment Platform (WasteMAP) are helping governments and researchers fill critical data gaps. WasteMAP aggregates national, city, and facility-level emissions data and, where gaps exist, leverages existing tools to provide accurate, actionable insights. The platform enables policymakers to identify the highest-emitting facilities, test the impact of interventions like organics diversion or landfill gas capture, and track reductions over time.
Countries such as Germany, Italy, and South Korea show that targeted policies—like mandatory organics separation, landfill restrictions, incentives for gas capture, and public education— can drive measurable reductions in waste methane. At the same time, countries like the UK are advancing their Global Methane Pledge commitments in agriculture, waste, and imported fuels, though experts stress that enforceable regulations will be essential to achieve meaningful, near-term climate benefits.
Progress in these areas is essential. Decreasing fossil fuel demand alone will not occur quickly enough to meet the Paris Agreement’s temperature goals. Targeted methane mitigation can deliver immediate climate benefits while complementing efforts to decarbonize the broader energy system. Looking ahead to COP30, negotiators should prioritize scaling up these approaches, supporting developing countries in implementing robust methane regulations, improving data collection and transparency across energy and waste sectors, and promoting low-cost interventions with outsized impact.
Rebuilding cooperation through pragmatic climate action and innovation
COP30 is taking place at a time when multilateralism is under strain and climate is taking a back seat to security and economic imperatives across regions, yet its success will depend on precisely that— collaboration. The past decade has shown that global emissions cannot be reduced through pledges alone. Achieving real, sustained progress requires pragmatic partnerships that bridge technology gaps, regional disparities, and institutional constraints.
Accelerating climate action will require more technologies, at lower costs, available in more places. Yet rising competition and fragmenting trade are threatening to disrupt supply chains for critical emerging decarbonization technologies, which could slow innovation, drive up costs, and slow technology diffusion. Even if consensus-based action is challenged by geopolitical fragmentation, bilateral and regional partnerships remains critical channel through which to combat this trend and commercialize technologies, drive economic growth, and cut emissions globally.
Pragmatic climate action will also require expanding the range of technologies available to meet diverse regional needs. Clean firm power such as nuclear energy, fusion, and advanced geothermal will play a crucial role in complementing renewable energy sources to provide reliable, 24/7 electricity while curbing emissions. Energy systems that incorporate these sources feature reduced long-term system costs, enhanced reliability, and strengthened resilience. A wider solution set also opens new economic opportunities across regions while bolstering energy security.
This means expanding access to diverse climate solutions—from renewables and nuclear energy to carbon management, geothermal, and low-carbon fuels—and ensuring that innovation and policy design reflect the social and economic contexts of each region. It also means recognizing that development and decarbonization are interdependent: economies cannot grow sustainably without reducing emissions, and emissions cannot fall sustainably without inclusive growth.
Looking ahead to the next decade
Ten years after Paris, the global community stands at an inflection point. Climate change remains one of the most complex and long-term challenges in human history— one that requires both immediate action and sustained commitment over decades. Yet ongoing conflicts, continued inflation, and mounting trade tensions have kept global attention fragmented.
The path forward must be grounded in realism and cooperation. Policymakers must recognize that climate strategies will only succeed if they are economically and politically viable, inclusive of all energy and industrial systems, and adaptive to different regional circumstances.
At COP30, CATF will work with governments, businesses, and civil society to chart a pragmatic course for the decade ahead. Slowing the rate of warming through methane mitigation, aligning climate and development goals, and expanding technology options across regions will be essential to sustaining global progress.
Pragmatic climate action is not about lowering ambition. It’s about making sure ambition translates into durable, real-world results that improve lives, strengthen economies, and protect the planet.
