Activation groups to strengthen the COP30 Action Agenda

Climate solution initiatives, identified by the Conference presidency, will be monitored to assess the implementation of actions. During the conference, six thematic pavilions will host discussions on the six pillars of the Action Agenda

By Mayara Souto / COP30

On Friday, August 29, during a joint webinar with the High-Level Climate Champions and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the COP30 presidency announced the creation of “activation groups” to strengthen the implementation of the Action Agenda. In total, thirty thematic groups covering the key objectives of the agenda will address sustainable solution initiatives.

"Today, we announced that our teams have identified over 600 initiatives created during the last 10 years of COPs. These initiatives bring together thousands of cities, regions, companies, investors, and civil society organizations committed to combating climate change. COP30 will leverage its power and commitments to accelerate the implementation of solutions that benefit the climate, our economies, and people. These solutions begin and end with people and must improve our lives,” stressed Ms. Ana Toni, COP30 CEO.

Of the initiatives identified, 300 are still active and are part of the activation groups. These initiatives bring together efforts from one or more Action Agenda stakeholders, such as national and subnational governments, investors, companies, and civil society organizations. Once integrated into the activation groups, their results will be monitored by the UNFCCC.

In addition to the groups, the COP30 presidency announced another innovation during the webinar: each of the six pillars of the Action Agenda will have a themed pavilion at the conference in Belém from November 10–21. The themes include:

• Energy, industry, and transportation sector transitions.

• Sustainable forest, ocean, and biodiversity management.

• Agricultural and food system transformation.

• Urban, infrastructure, and water resilience building.

• Promoting human and social development.

“There will be more than 60 meetings over the two weeks of the COP to present these solutions, these acceleration plans, and to discuss the Granary of Solutions for the key objectives, to give them visibility,” added Ana Toni, referring to the online platform that will bring these initiatives together as a legacy of COP30.

Engagement

The meeting also served as a call to action for the multiple actors involved in climate solutions, beyond COP negotiators. “It is important to highlight that we are not reinventing the wheel; this approach builds on existing work but takes advantage of the fact that we now have more negotiated outcomes. The step toward a more structured Action Agenda was very well received, and I am optimistic that we can add a new dimension to the COP that meets one of President Lula’s greatest expectations: to explain what these negotiated documents mean, how stakeholders can use them, and what actions are possible,” highlighted Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, COP30 President.

“As we look ahead, we don’t need more complexity, but we do need to evolve and improve within a framework that facilitates stakeholder action, government alignment, and allows everyone to see and deliver the necessary results,” argued Mr. Daniele Violette, UNFCCC Senior Director of Programs.

Climate Champions Dan Ioschpe (COP30) and Nigar Arpadarai (COP29) also issued a call for engagement to the many actors who can contribute to climate solutions, stressing how these actions can impact people’s everyday lives around the world.

“Finance is not just about numbers; it is about a sustainable future. We need large-scale public and private capital, with new instruments and hybrid models that channel resources into resilient development. I invite financial actors to bring innovation and capital to COP30, helping to scale up solutions that ensure sustainable socioeconomic development over time,” stressed Mr. Ioschpe.

“CEOs, mayors, governors, and civil society leaders, I invite you to join us in Belém to showcase your practical and scalable solutions, inspiring others and providing policymakers with concrete evidence that the mission is becoming implementation,” added the COP30 Climate Champion.

“Above all, the Action Agenda is about impacting people’s lives. It is not something abstract. It is about delivering solutions that make daily life safer, healthier, and more resilient—from clean and affordable energy and climate-smart agriculture to stronger housing and more inclusive cities,” emphasized Ms. Arpadarai.