The summary note from the Presidential Consultations on four key issues — finance, trade, 1.5°C implementation, and ambition gap — outlined a list of possible actions emerging after last week’s discussions. After nearly 15 hours of closed-door discussions over six days, talks continued on November 17. Although the COP30 Presidency identified a “high degree of convergence and alignment”, the options presented in the text highlighted the persistent differences among countries across these areas.
For instance, on implementing Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which relates to the legal obligations of developed countries to provide finance to developing countries, the text offered options that vary widely — from a three-year Belem work programme to merely reaffirming “NCQG and resolve to accelerate implementation”, an approach that has previously left the Global South disappointed and dissatisfied.
The NCQG or the New Collective Quantified Goal, is a climate finance target adopted at COP29 in Baku to mobilise at least $300 billion per year by 2035. The decision in Baku was met with disappointment from developing countries and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), due to the absence of enforceable mechanisms.
By contrast, the three-year work programme running until 2028, was proposed by India on behalf of the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs), during the Presidential Consultations, reflecting their call for a more structured and actionable process.
Implementation of Article 9.1, along with three other issues, was left out of the negotiating agenda adopted on the first day of the two-week 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and discussions have since taken place in separate Presidential Consultations.
The issues are:
· Implementation of Article 9, paragraph 1, of the Paris Agreement
· Promoting international cooperation and addressing the concerns with climate change related trade-restrictive unilateral measures
· Responding to the synthesis report on nationally determined contributions and addressing the 1.5 °C ambition and implementation gap
· Reporting and review pursuant to Article 13 of the Paris Agreement: Synthesis of biennial transparency reports
On climate-related trade-restrictive unilateral measures, the options presented suggested a new “annual dialogue” on implementing and operationalising Article 3.5 of UNFCCC, which states that climate change response measures should not be a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade.
Other options ranged from discussions and round tables, going to the next stocktake exercise, UNFCCC consultations on new trade measures.
In the Presidency Consultations, the developing country blocs have called for an immediate “cease” to such unilateral trade measures (UTM), which they say unfairly tax developing countries, undermine multilateralism and contradict the principles of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities. Parties have urged the launch of an annual dialogue on UTMs to avoid such measures in future.
On the third issue, options ranged from incorporating it into the next global stocktake in 2028 to holding annual COP discussions on the status of national pledges and reporting.
Overall, the summary note underscored that the options for potential outcomes were so diverse that they could take the shape of anything from a cover text to a “delivery plan” or even an “action plan.”