Preparing for COP30: issues at stake, metrics of success, and Europe’s role

As COP30 in Belém approaches, the world faces a decisive moment for climate cooperation. Ten years after the Paris Agreement, governments are expected to table a new generation of Nationally Determined Contributions and negotiate an ambitious new framework for climate finance and just transition. The credibility of global climate action — and the multilateral process itself — will be on the line. For Europe, COP30 comes at a time in which the block seeks to reconcile deep decarbonisation with industrial competitiveness and redefine its role in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape. This Bruegel event explored what is truly at stake in Belém: How can we assess success and failure in global climate diplomacy today? What outcomes could reignite momentum for collective action? And how can Europe contribute to a renewed sense of purpose and partnership on the path to a sustainable global future?