ZAGREB – The United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP30, begins today in Belém, Brazil. WWF is calling for the adoption of a global plan that would bring the world at least closer to the goals set in Copenhagen. The plan must inevitably include the energy sector, methane emissions, forestry, and heavy industry, while ensuring a just transition that reduces the economic and financial divide within societies. Brazil faces a challenging task: to guide nations toward an agreement that would reinforce global efforts to reduce emissions within the current climate regime. It is no surprise this conference is already being called the “COP of truth.”

“Mitigation means taking measures to limit the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Countries can phase out coal-fired power plants, invest in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, improve the energy efficiency of buildings and transport, or prevent deforestation. The mitigation gap refers to the difference between current emission reduction commitments and what is actually required to limit global warming to 1.5°C. And that gap is terrifyingly wide,” said Nataša Kalauz, CEO of WWF Adria.

The European Union, as a global leader in climate action, is heading to COP30 with a position discussed a week ago by the Council of Environment Ministers – a plan to reduce emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels by 2040. On paper, this may sound promising, but the decision allows countries to purchase foreign carbon credits to cover up to 5% of their emissions. In practice, this means that individual industrial targets in some EU member states could fall as low as 85% if they so choose. Some member states opposed these targets, calling them too restrictive for the economy, since new goals have also been set in industrial and common defense policies. However, they failed to change the decision. This stance from the EU worries WWF, considering that Europe has long been a global leader in shaping the climate agenda.

While notable progress has been made in the ten years since the Paris Agreement was signed, it remains far from sufficient. The 1.5°C goal — a legal, moral, and scientific cornerstone essential to avoiding the most devastating risks to people and nature — has not been achieved. “Current policies and measures are leading the world toward approximately 2.7°C of warming by the end of this century, making it crucial that we act together to stop pushing our planet toward the brink of survival. The science is clear, and proven solutions already exist in every sector. What is missing is the political will to scale up, accelerate, and fund these solutions. Unfortunately, this lack of political will is pushing the world toward catastrophic consequences for people and nature,” added Kalauz.

At COP30, countries are submitting new or updated national climate plans, which must be significantly more ambitious in reducing emissions and must cover all sectors and sources. The protection and restoration of carbon-rich natural ecosystems — from tropical forests to coral reefs — should also be a key part of these plans.

“So far, Croatia has not been particularly ambitious when it comes to climate policy. It was also among the EU member states that opposed the 90% reduction target. We must become more ambitious in the coming years. The Adriatic Sea is one of the regions most affected by climate change, and we cannot ignore its importance for our economy and society as a whole. I expect that even in less active periods, we will take a more proactive stance on climate policy and recognize how vital this issue is for our future,” concluded Kalauz.

Talking is not enough — proposed plans must be adopted and implemented without delay. COP30 must mark the moment when we accelerate efforts to secure a livable planet for future generations.