In November 2025, a group of specialists from Newcastle University visited Belém, Brazil for the latest UN Climate Change Conference (COP30). 

In this blog, Olivia Elwood, Sustainability Officer at Newcastle University, writes about visiting this vital event through the eyes of those who attended.

What was COP30?

The annual United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties (COP) is the birthplace of many landmark climate treaties. And on the 10-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the 30th session took place in the city of Belém, Brazil.

Trying to keep track of two weeks of negotiations, across 78 pavilions, involving over 50,000 delegates is no easy task. Thankfully, three of those delegates were representatives from Newcastle University; Research Associate in Energy Materials, Amy Neild, Professor of Soil Science, David Manning, and Research Associate Dr Kristina Wolf. Listening to their contemplations and experiences provided a priceless window into understanding what really happened at the COP of ‘implementation”’ and ‘truth’.

A journey to Belém

This year saw the first COP held in the Amazon Basin. Leaders and delegates from around the world gathered there to discuss climate action.

Known as the gateway to the Amazon, Belém made the perfect setting for discussion addressing the climate crisis, with such a strong emphasis on the Amazon’s role. As the Amazon is a biome essential to the global climate balance, holding COP30 here sent a clear message about the urgency of climate action and highlights the value of solutions rooted in the forest, its people, its biodiversity, and the indigenous wisdom that offers pathways to ecological transition.

Building on the action of previous COPs, richer countries with historically greater emissions contributing to current climate change were called to make reparations through implementing stronger and more just climate finance commitments. This finance for adaptation, loss and damage is key for the future security of climate-vulnerable nations.

Kristina Wolf and Amy Neild take a selfie outside the COP30 Pavillion. Credit: Kristina Wolf

What was Belém like? 

None of our delegates had previously visited Belém, and it was immediately clear they were worlds away from Newcastle upon Tyne in November. Amy and Kristina were greeted by the kind of hot humid weather you could only expect from the ‘City of Mango Trees’. David even experienced a longer flight as the plane circled, waiting for a gap in the heavy rainfall. Heavy rain that was soon understood as a feature (not an exception) of the afternoons.

The city, as expected, was alive with activity. Visits to the traditional Ver-O-Peso Market, historic centre, and the riverside restaurants and live music of the Ilha do Combú were standouts. With the aid of translation apps, local guidance and kindness were the beautiful backdrop to the city’s warm welcome.

Around the UN Climate Change venue. Credit: Zô Guimarães

The conference itself was like “stepping into an entirely different world”, Kristina recalled. 500,000 square metres of Blue and Green Pavillion, thousands of people, and dozens of parallel events all added to its overwhelming nature. David pointed out this information overload was inescapable with the nature of the event. “It has to accommodate a really wide range of points of view from so many nations”. 

‘I was immediately struck by the sheer size of the conference centre… the Glastonbury of Conferences.’ – Amy

The genuine care of the host city was clearly exemplified in the ‘Green Zone’, the most diverse and innovative space of the conference, open to all. It was a meeting zone for the private sector, governments, youth, civil society organisations, universities, indigenous peoples, artists, and the public to come together to discuss solutions, experiences, and visions for the future. The space was bustling with stalls representing the interests of indigenous peoples and selling souvenirs.  

The team noted the overwhelming nature of stepping into a discussion that seemed alive and bristling with action:

‘A conversation already in full flow, conducted in a new language of acronyms, abbreviations and technical terms.’ – Kristina

Attending negotiations and contributing as observers 

The team could attend negotiation sessions, but access for observers varied. Some sessions were completely closed, while others had only a handful of observer seats, sometimes as few as nine. During these sessions, observers sat in the backrows and primarily listened. 

This access to negotiation meetings became more limited the longer the conference went on. Long queues formed outside popular agenda item sessions, sometimes even surpassing the person limit of the overflow room. Amy described it as ‘eye-opening’ to witness the COP presidency cut off the speeches of ‘delegations that overran their allotted time’, an abrupt but necessary tactic to ensure ‘all voices had a chance to be heard’. 

David came the closest to attending a negotiating meeting up close. His host had a status that permitted him to bring David into a typically non-observer space, as even Blue Zone security clearance wasn’t an ‘access all areas’ card. Unfortunately, this entry point into a negotiation space was cut off by the Pavillion fire that made news headlines around the world. Thankfully evacuations were well executed by the organisers, and our observers made it safely outside.

Kristina Wolf and Amy Neild stand outside the entrance to the UK Pavillion at COP30. Credit: Kristina Wolf

Opportunities for networking

In many ways, the gold of the conference seemed to be found in the networking, which began in Rio de Janeiro before even boarding the flight to Belém.

'It was one of the most vibrant networking spaces I have ever experienced.'– Amy

The random nature of the networking seems to be intrinsic to a conference that size. It was a chance to start conversations with Makerere University in Uganda, alongside new contacts in Malawi and the USA as well as Brazil.

'I was able to meet people I wanted to meet, and many others by accident.' – David

The team noted the Higher Education Pavillion, lunch tables, queuing lines, WhatsApp groups, LinkedIn networks and informal discussions after side events all became particularly useful meeting points for networking and sharing Newcastle’s work, including the DARe project and the data resources available through the Urban Observatory.

A time for change? 

After three decades of COPs, some commentators noted the conference format may no longer be fit for purpose. I asked our team whether they thought COP needed a rehaul.

‘A lot depends on the chair or facilitator, as they can significantly shape the tone of the session and the way countries interact.’ –Kristina

The slow pace of negotiations due to the strategic tactics of delegations has a huge impact on coming to any sort of conclusion. Delegates noted that processes seemed frustratingly slow, give the urgency of the need to make change happen. Even the president had to navigate a difficult path to achieve a consensus that disappointed many due to the inability to agree a roadmap leading to the end of fossil fuels. 

However, our observers unanimously agreed there was still much value in the conference.

‘COP remains unique: there is no other forum where almost every nation, plus observers, scientists and civil society, meet under one roof and negotiate climate action. That alone is enormously valuable.’ – Kristina

In terms of practical change, Kristina cited the need to improve inclusion and balance for smaller delegations, indigenous peoples, and frontline communities to participate meaningfully, not just symbolically. 

‘If we didn’t have it, we’d go backwards.’ – David

Strengthening the role of science through regular and structured briefings would help negotiators navigate policy pathways. And lastly, conflicts of interest need to be addressed, namely the influx of influence from fossil-fuel lobbyists.

Cautious optimism and collective responsibility 

Verdicts were a mixture of cautious optimism and realism, though the team generally agreed that if it’s left up to our governments the chances are zero, as the burden falls on communities of committed individuals and organisations. 

But there was also hope. Of course there were concerns raised, many of them focused on climate finance, but the hearing about initiatives across the globe was a brilliant way to be encouraged by the action happening.

‘I met an extraordinary number of committed people, but many delegates asked the same question: if science has been unambiguous for so long, why has action been so slow?’ – Kristina 

Strengthening collective responsibility would aid this conditional optimism.

‘Universities have a vital role to play in helping our students to learn about climate change, about COP, and about how they can play their part in challenging the status quo and secure our global future.’ – David

View from the audience of a panel discussion about to start on stage, entitled 'Empowering an Informed and Engaged Society for Effective Climate Action'. Credit: Kristina Wolf 

You might also like: 

• learn more about the wide-ranging goals and outcomes of COP30 
• find out more about the author, Olivia Elwood, Sustainability Officer at Newcastle University 
• find out more about COP30 delegate, Research Associate in Energy Materials, Amy Neild 
• find out more about COP30 delegate and Professor of Soil Science, David Manning, in our School of Natural and Environmental Sciences 
• find out more about COP30 delegate and Research Associate Dr Kristina Wolf in our School of Engineering 
• discover more about Newcastle’s work shared at COP30, such as the DARe project and the data resources available through the Urban Observatory 

Header image credit: Closing Plenary UN Climate Change, Kiara Worth