COP30: What Businesses Need to Know

In the lead up to COP30, the 2025 UN Emissions Gap Report highlighted two key trends: a reduction in the growth of GHG emissions, and a rapid expansion of renewable energy. While these are encouraging developments, the report also emphasised that current policies project a global warming trajectory of 2.5 - 2.9°C by 2100 – still well beyond the Paris targets. 

The broader context for the summit  was shaped by ongoing geopolitical turbulence and the notable absence of US engagement at COP30, both of which influenced the negotiations and overall tone of the event.  

Key Take Aways 

1) COP30 underwhelmed, with some progress made but little tangible delivery on the key ambitions going into the summit – a clear transition away from fossil fuels (advocated for by more than 80 countries), raising country level GHG reduction targets (called Nationally Defined Contributions (NDCs)), halting deforestation and meeting climate finance commitments to the Global South.  

2) COP30 delivered the Mutirão Pact, a voluntary global cooperation framework signalling that the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient economy is continuing, even if binding commitments remain limited. 

3) A new Global Implementation Accelerator was agreed that aims to drive countries to close the emissions gap and report progress by COP31 planned for Türkiye in 2026  with Australia leading the proceedings and Ireland leading the EU negotiations. This is to provide a global response to the current climate mitigation gap and support countries in strengthening and implementing their NDCs, signalling a shift to tighter climate delivery demands and policy alignment for COP31. 

4) Two political roadmaps (on fossil fuel transition and halting deforestation) will be developed by the Presidency, potentially shaping global expectations for corporate transition and supply chain action. These roadmaps are political rather than legal instruments and actual “pathways” were not discussed in the final text, leaving the timeline and enforcement vague. 

5) Climate finance rose on the agenda, but the funding shortfalls persist. Though the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage launched its first call for proposals, actual funding pledges remain far below what’s needed to address climate induced disasters. Parties also reached an agreement that developing countries will receive $120 billion a year for adaptation from the $300 billion developed countries pledged to them last year, but with delivery now expected by 2035 rather than the 2030 deadline many vulnerable countries had demanded. This delay, combined with debates over carbon border taxes, underlines persistent divisions between developed and developing countries on responsibility, timelines and instruments for climate finance. 

6) COP30 advanced a broader Climate Action Agenda, including a roadmap for mobilising around a trillion dollars of investment for clean energy and grid infrastructure, quadrupling sustainable fuel capacity and supporting green job creation. UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell framed these outcomes as laying the foundation for “stronger economies, more jobs and better lives for many millions” even if the summit fell short of delivering the comprehensive fossil fuel deal many had hoped for.  

What does this mean for Businesses? 

While progress was made on some fronts, securing agreement among the 194 signatory nations on responses to the global climate crisis remains a difficult and long-term exercise.  

However, against a backdrop of intensifying climate impacts, unclear regulatory expectations, stormy political waters, and lack of US engagement, COP30 did deliver initiatives and implementation tool that will shape the next cycle of EU climate policy, showing that climate cooperation is alive and kicking and setting the tone for how countries and businesses must accelerate climate action if there is any hope of keeping the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement within reach.  

Climate-related risks and costs for businesses are escalating, regardless of the pace of international climate diplomacy. In Ireland and the EU, legally binding GHG reduction targets remain firmly in place and impact a wide range of sectors, including energy, agriculture and food, transport, the built environment, and industry.  

To ensure compliance and resilience, businesses must: 

• Measure their GHG emissions 
• Set science-based reduction targets 
• Develop and implement a Climate Transition Plan, focusing on decarbonising both own operations and supply chain 

At BDO Ireland, we are committed to leading by example. Our own emissions reduction targets have been validated by global gold standard Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).  

BDO sustainability experts in Ireland and globally help organisations to decarbonise, set targets, develop Climate Transition Plans, and report annual progress. 

Article written by Katie Lynch, Senior Sustainability Consultant, BDO Ireland Sustainability Services.