Opening statement of the COP30 President- Designate at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue

Esteemed Jennifer Lee Morgan, State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action of Germany. 

Dear ministers, authorities of UN bodies, diplomats, representatives of civil society and academic organizations, ladies and gentlemen.

It is an immense pleasure to be again in Berlin and meet you all at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue.

This Dialogue has served for over two decades as a vital political forum to advance the global climate agenda. 

This year’s edition carries particular importance, as it represents a crucial step toward achieving successful outcomes at COP30 in Belém - the first COP convened after a full calendar year in which the world exceeded the 1,5 oC temperature limit set by the Paris Agreement. 

The growing impacts of climate change are being felt across every country and region. At the same time, solutions and opportunities are emerging more clearly than ever – from the digital revolution to the rapidly falling costs of renewable energy. 

We must seize these developments if we are to remain competitive while building resilience, ensuring energy security, eradicating poverty and hunger and promoting sustainable development with a view to the future. Let us not be shortsighted. 

In a time of serious geopolitical, socioeconomic, and environmental challenges, we must reinforce multilateralism, connect the climate regime to people’s real lives, and advance structural adjustments beyond the Climate Convention to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

As I mentioned in my first letter as COP30 president, this year will mark two significant anniversaries. COP30 will be the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol and the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement.’

These agreements have shaped our global climate framework, and yet, the road ahead remains long. Our task is to ensure that the momentum of these historic treaties is not just preserved but accelerated.

COP30 will be an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of multilateralism and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. No country can solve this crisis alone. We must work in partnership to achieve our common goals.

In my letter to the international community, I have referred to the Brazilian concept of “mutirão”, which refers to a community coming together to work on a shared task. By sharing this invaluable ancestral wisdom and social technology, the incoming COP30 presidency invites the international community to join Brazil in a global “mutirão” against climate change, a global effort of cooperation among peoples for the progress of humanity.

Governments must do their part in this global effort by presenting ambitious national climate plans - our NDCs. Together, our national efforts must align with our shared determination to pursue efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Let us join forces in this global collective effort against climate change.

The task ahead cannot be accomplished by any nation in isolation. Climate change is a global problem requiring a global solution. It demands unprecedented levels of international cooperation, solidarity, and shared responsibility.

Moreover, we must not only engage governments but also the diverse global community - civil society, businesses, youth movements, indigenous communities, and scientific leaders. We are stronger together, and the solution to climate change is not within the hands of any one group.

We must build a "movement of movements," a coalition of diverse voices united by the common purpose of a sustainable and equitable future. Our approach must be inclusive, integrating all actors, and ensuring that no one is left behind.

At COP30, we must also connect negotiations to the real world of groups and individuals, showing the very concrete results from our regime to the daily life of people.

COP30 will be held in the heart of the Amazon. The Amazon plays a central role in regulating our climate, preserving biodiversity, and supporting the livelihoods of millions. 

Hosting this conference in the Amazon region is a powerful reminder of the urgency to protect our most precious ecosystems and to understand their irreplaceable value in our global climate strategy.

As we move forward, it is crucial that we recognize the deep inequities in the impact of climate change. Developing countries and vulnerable communities, particularly those in the Global South, bear the brunt of climate impacts despite contributing the least to the problem. 

Climate justice is not a mere aspiration; it is a fundamental principle that must underpin every decision we make at COP30. We must ensure that the most affected communities are at the heart of our solutions, and we must listen to their voices in shaping the way forward.

While we gather here to continue negotiations, let us not forget that COP30 must be a turning point. We have debated, we have discussed, and we have negotiated. Now is the time for implementation. The world is watching, and the planet is waiting. 

The Paris Agreement is our shared roadmap for a sustainable future. The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C is more urgent than ever. At COP30, we must recommit to this goal and work to ensure that every country strengthens its national contributions. 

But commitments alone are not enough. We must hold ourselves accountable to the promises made and ramp up our actions to meet these targets. We cannot afford to wait any longer.

Current governance systems – our state and multilateral capacities – are not prepared for the serious risks that science is warning us about. Climate change requires us to innovate towards new models for new challenges, as past assumptions become obsolete in an exponentially changing environment and exponentially evolving and impactful solutions.

At the G20 Summit in Rio last year, President Lula invited the international community to explore the concept of a new UN Climate Change Council, a platform for climate cooperation capable of accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement and COP decisions by aggregating efforts that are currently fragmented.

Though the incoming COP30 Presidency humbly acknowledges it does not intend to present ready-made answers, it does have the determination to provoke critical questions to be responded collectively, bringing together the best of wisdom and science.

Among many political, economic, and environmental uncertainties, while avoiding new bureaucratic instances, international cooperation could benefit from a permanent platform for rapidly sharing data, knowledge and intelligence while leveraging networks and articulating resources, processes, mechanisms, and actors inside and outside of the UN.

A platform to support vulnerable countries in emergency situations, implementing the Paris Agreement and the decisions of COPs. We have to make a difference locally by aligning efforts globally.

We invite all those gathered at this Dialogue to engage in open and constructive conversations, guided by a spirit of coooperation – or, as we might say, the mutirão spirit – so essential for tackling a challenge as complex as climate change, with its social, economic, and environmental dimensions so deeply intertwined. In the face of a shared global crisis, multilateralism and global governance are more necessary than ever.

We cannot ignore the losses and damages that are already occurring, particularly in the most vulnerable countries. It is essential that COP30 addresses the issue of loss and damage in a meaningful way. 

We need robust financial mechanisms to support those who are suffering due to climate impacts. We must ensure that the funds and resources reach those who need them most, without delay.

The private sector has a crucial role to play in the fight against climate change. Businesses are not only key to the implementation of sustainable solutions but are also essential drivers of innovation. 

COP30 will seek to strengthen the partnership between governments, businesses, and financial institutions, ensuring that the private sector contributes significantly to the global transition to a low-carbon economy.

Financial support for climate action remains a cornerstone of global climate policy. At COP30, we must reaffirm our commitment to mobilizing climate finance, particularly for developing countries. 

The incoming COP30 presidency looks forward to working with the COP29 presidency in guiding the “Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T” to scale up climate finance to developing country. 

The roadmap must serve as a fulcrum for leveraging finance to low-carbon and climate-resilience pathways in developing countries.

The peoples of the forest, including Indigenous peoples, traditional communities and “quilombolas”, are guardians of the land and key players in our fight against climate change. Their knowledge, traditions, and ways of life are invaluable in our shared journey toward sustainability. At COP30, we must ensure that indigenous communities are not only heard but also respected in our decision-making processes. Their voices must guide our policies and strategies.

While governments must lead, it is crucial that we recognize the role of cities, regions, businesses, and individuals in the fight against climate change. The actions of local governments and citizens will complement the efforts at the international level. COP30 will strive to empower these actors and ensure that the response to climate change is a collective, global effort.

Science and innovation will be the bedrock of our future climate solutions. COP30 will emphasize the need for continued investment in research and technology, enabling us to unlock new solutions for mitigating and adapting to climate change. The scientific community’s contributions must be central to our decisions and actions.

Finally, as we gather here today, let us remember that we are united by hope. While the challenges are immense, the opportunities are equally significant. Our actions today will shape the future of our children, grandchildren, and the generations to come. Together, we can rise to meet this challenge. Together, we will inspire the world to take the bold, decisive action that is needed to secure a sustainable and just future for all.

 Thank you.