11 Sep 2025
What are the UN climate talks?
The UN climate talks are an important space for convening the world’s decision makers, experts and community leaders to tackle climate change. This year's “conference of the parties” (COP) will be the 30th meeting of this kind and is taking place in Brazil for 2 weeks in November 2025.
It's a chance for world leaders to negotiate the rules, guidelines and cooperation needed to tackle climate change and its impacts. The talks are made up of the main negotiating space, separate working groups, technical bodies and committees. In addition to these formal activities, there are lots of events, announcements and demonstrations organised by civil society organisations.
Every fraction of a degree of warming that can be prevented is vital if we’re to limit harm to people and the environment.
As one of the world’s biggest historical polluters, the UK has a responsibility to push for maximum ambition at these talks. The UK government should use its influence to help steer the talks to success.
What will be the key issues at COP 30?
This year’s talks come at a crucial time for climate action. With the summit taking place in the Brazilian Amazon, efforts to protect the world’s forests will likely dominate the conversation.
The conference marks a decade since the landmark Paris Agreement was signed. Countries are due to unveil stronger plans for limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.
The last 3 climate talks took place in restrictive petrostates, that is, countries that heavily rely on the export of oil or natural gas. COP 30 marks the first conference in some time that campaigners and climate advocates will have the freedom to come together with the full force of the international climate movement, pitching their demands for climate justice. Alongside the official negotiations, this year civil society is organising its own People’s Summit.
What do Friends of the Earth want to see at COP30?
Friends of the Earth will be urging the UK government to show maximum ambition and drive for ending global deforestation. This includes putting Planet Over Profit by adopting a new law to hold UK businesses to account for harm caused to communities and the environment around the world.
The UK must recognise Indigenous peoples and local communities as defenders of the world's forests and as climate leaders. With the UK’s finance pledges for forests running out in 2026 and the 2030 deadline for ending global deforestation fast approaching, this is the moment for bold action. We need to see the UK government commit to a larger, long-term forest pledge that boosts direct funding for Indigenous Peoples and local community-led solutions and secures land rights for the forest defenders on the front line of the climate crisis.
The impacts of climate change are not dealt with equally, and those who’ve done least to cause the global crisis are paying the highest price. Rich countries like the UK – one of the world’s biggest historical polluters – have a responsibility to support frontline communities. We’ll be urging the UK government to contribute its fair share towards international climate finance, to support those countries least responsible for climate breakdown in adapting and transitioning.
Where to follow for live COP 30 updates
Follow Friends of the Earth International for social media updates on conference developments. We also highly recommend following our Chief Executive, Asad Rehman. Similarly, Friends of the Earth Brazil will be offering crucial insights. The Indigenous Environmental Network will also be giving important commentary across their channels, and we recommend Demand Climate Justice for general updates.
On Saturday 15 November, join a COP 30 mobilisation near you. Find out how in our action guide here.
