COP 30 Circles

Hosting a COP is not a task a Presidency can carry out alone. In the spirit of the mutirão and to strengthen global mobilization against climate change, the COP30 Presidency created four Leadership Circles.

These circles were designed to foster dialogue, share knowledge, and broaden the reach of the COP process. Each operated independently, under the leadership of its respective ministers, while also contributing to the broader objectives of COP30.

General objectives

• Support innovation within the COP process;

• Accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement;

• Encourage climate action beyond the two weeks of negotiations; and

• Promote coordinated global action in the face of climate change.

Meet the Leadership Circles

CIRCLE OF COP PRESIDENTS

Members: former COP Presidents since COP21 (Paris, 2015).

Objective: to accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement and strengthen multilateralism and global climate governance. The Circle put forward recommendations on how the international community can advance climate action while preserving the integrity and legacy of the COP process, reflecting on current challenges and contributing to the future of the global climate regime.

Lead: Laurent Fabius, France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012–2016) and President of COP21

CIRCLE OF PEOPLES

Members: Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities, traditional peoples and communities, and family farmers.

Objective: to strengthen the COP30 Presidency’s capacity to listen to and incorporate the demands and contributions of Indigenous peoples, traditional communities, Afro-descendant groups and family farmers. Complementing existing UNFCCC participatory platforms, the Circle offered guidance on expanding global recognition of traditional knowledge, practices, and solutions, ensuring these perspectives contribute to more effective and just climate policies — respecting rights and confronting racism and environmental inequalities.

GLOBAL ETHICAL STOCKTAKE CIRCLE

Members: religious leaders, artists, local communities, young people, scientists, business leaders, women, activists and policymakers.

Objective: to issue a global call to climate action grounded in ethics, cultural diversity and science. Through dialogues held across six regions of the world — along with additional conversations organized independently using the same methodology — the Circle raised global awareness by bringing together political, cultural, Indigenous, and traditional leaders, as well as artists, philosophers, business representatives, and religious leaders.

Regional leads: Wanjira Mathai (Africa); Kailash Satyarthi (Asia); Mary Robinson (Europe); Michelle Bachelet (Latin America and the Caribbean); Karenna Gore (North America); Anote Tong (Oceania).

CIRCLE OF FINANCE MINISTERS

Members: Finance Ministers from 35 countries. The group worked closely with international organizations, civil society, the private sector and academia.

Objective: to contribute to the development of the Baku to Belém Roadmap to mobilize US$ 1.3 trillion and engage the international financial community around five strategic priorities: reform of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs); expansion of concessional finance and climate funds; creation of national platforms and strengthening of domestic capacity to attract sustainable investment; development of innovative financial instruments to mobilize private capital; and strengthening of regulatory frameworks for climate finance.