COP30: People Empowerment at the Core of Climate Action

Alongside major announcements on jobs, information integrity and Indigenous adaptation, the following developments stood out:

• the Asset Owners Summit united major investors and asset owners to align on priority transition solutions and policies for climate finance, and agree on outputs for Finance Day to accelerate capital deployment into low-carbon markets
• a plan to harness public procurement to drive climate action and a just transition coordinates countries with existing procurement policies to prioritize low-emission cement, concrete, and steel, fair labor, and inclusive practices. Brazil, Mexico, Norway, and the Netherlands have confirmed participation, with others in discussion
• cultural leaders and artists showcased the role of identity and creativity in climate awareness and action
• the Youth Climate Champions Dialogue reinforced the importance of inter-generational participation in combatting the climate crisis, with youth participation depicted as an essential pillar of climate progress

Thematic Focus – Work, Justice and Voices Driving the Transition

Jobs & Workers

A central announcement was the introduction of the Global Initiative on Jobs & Skills for the New Economy. The initiative hopes to nurture a relationship between workforce development and climate strategies. The group leading the initiative revealed its Flagship Report during discussions which demonstrated that the climate transition could create an estimated 375 million new jobs over the next decade and adaptation activities could generate an estimated 280 million jobs worldwide. This reflects that climate action is no longer viewed purely as an environmental obligation but is also at the center of shared prosperity.

Information Integrity

COP30 has become the first COP that has included information integrity as a key objective. Six new member states joined the Global Initiative on Information Integrity, highlighting a collective commitment to tackling disinformation and strengthening trust in climate governance. The initiative is introducing a plan to accelerate implementation, with the following targets set for 2028:

• Support over ten countries in developing new legal frameworks
• Mobilize USD 10 million through UNESCO’s Global Fund for Information Integrity on Climate Change, prioritizing the Global South
• Establish a Charter of Principles for Accountable Climate Advertising.

Indigenous Adaptation and Cultural Leadership

Indigenous leaders and cultural representatives highlighted the role of traditional knowledge and storytelling in shaping effective adaptation strategies. The discussions emphasized that cultural identity and heritage are integral to climate resilience, with the integration of indigenous voices seen as a way of strengthening climate negotiations and decision-making. By elevating Indigenous voices, COP30 reinforced the principle that solutions must be inclusive and rooted in local realities, ensuring that adaptation measures respect rights and preserve cultural continuity.

Overview

Day three of COP30 shifted the spotlight to the social foundations of climate action. Discussions underscored that a just and inclusive transition depends on more than technology and finance. It also requires investment in people through jobs, health, education, cultural identity, and justice. The debut of Information Integrity on the COP agenda also highlighted that combating misinformation and ensuring transparent, science-based communication is essential to empower societies and promote climate action. 

Further reading on COP30

Stay up to date on our daily briefings on COP30 overt the next two weeks and view all of our content from last year’s COP here.