Hi John,

For the last two weeks, I’ve been in Belém, Brazil, on the edges of the Amazon, fighting for a livable planet and justice with people from all over the world at the UN climate conference, COP30.

The outcome of COP30 is mixed. There are some positives on climate justice that communities have long fought for. But we are missing clear pathways, timelines, and funding required to deliver on what science demands and communities need.

I'm angry that rich countries won't put up the money to help people deal with damage caused by deadly storms or floods caused by climate change. I’m frustrated that we didn’t get a clear roadmap to quit fossil fuels and the money needed for a fair shift to clean energy. We got nice words on paper instead of the real action we desperately need.

I guess you might be feeling the same disappointment. But, I want you to know there is actually so much to be hopeful about, because the real leadership was outside the negotiation rooms.

Our movement has achieved some big wins, and real progress is happening all across the world. Here are my top reasons for hope following COP30.

1. People Power Made Fossil Fuel Phase-out Unstoppable

After three years of COPs hosted in petro-states, COP30 felt like a breath of fresh air. It took place on land protected by Indigenous Peoples, and their leadership was the brightest part of the event. In fact, COP30 itself had one of the largest Indigenous delegations in history, with roughly 3,000 representatives.

People power showed up in force – 70,000 people filled the streets of Belém, holding a funeral for fossil fuels and turning grief into collective defiance at the great People’s March for Climate Justice.

Thousands hit streets of Belém to call for action during crucial COP30 summit¹

Thanks to this pressure, a real action plan behind the promise to transition away from fossil fuels emerged. Almost 90 countries – led by the Pacific and backed by Latin American governments like Colombia – supported the roadmap to Transition Away From Fossil Fuels. No, this wasn’t in the final agreement, but momentum is building – and that is thanks to us!

For the first time in years of climate negotiations, it feels like the world isn’t just naming fossil fuels as the problem, it’s starting to agree on how to end them. This might sound basic, but it's actually huge! We will keep pushing until real commitments are matched by the courage and clarity shown on the streets of Belém.

2. A Win for Justice and Indigenous Rights

Thanks to pressure from our movement, a proposal for states to drive action on a just transition towards a low-carbon economy – the Belém Action Mechanism (BAM) was passed. This mechanism includes strong language on Indigenous rights and land leadership.²

This is the direct result of pressure from the most impacted nations and our global climate movement

This language ensures that any future transition plan must center the communities and Indigenous Peoples who have protected forests, rivers, and ecosystems for generations. It also mentions the need to uphold the rights of workers in a just transition, and…

3. Why We Must Push Harder: The Finance Gap

When it came to paying up or giving up power, commitments vanished. The world heard big speeches about justice and ambition, but rich countries – especially the EU, Japan, and Canada – refused to provide the necessary money to help communities adapt to climate change.³

Communities living through floods, droughts, and rising seas needed real decisions. What they got instead was another round of delayed action. We have to call out the hypocrisy: You cannot claim climate leadership while shielding the fossil fuel industries or dodging the responsibility for the bill.

Now is not the time to fall back at this disappointment, but to push harder. We have a clear target for our pressure.

4. Real climate leadership is us

My hope ultimately comes from our movement. At COP30, I saw firsthand our willingness to fight for one another; to show up for each other, across countries, languages and generations to demand justice.

This is what I wanted you to see with your own eyes, John. Humanity is at its best right here in this video, made from moments captured at COP.

This is what gives me hope. I hope watching the video will inspire you, too.

Watch and Share on Facebook - Instagram - or BlueSky

The calls for phasing out fossil fuels have never been louder.

Already, next year Colombia will co-host the first International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, a space to turn this political momentum into concrete plans.

Seeing the strength of our movement, I have no doubt that together we will create a just, equitable world free from fossil fuels. If you can, please consider donating today to help us drive forward this momentum.

Onwards,

Andreas and everyone on the 350 COP30 team

P.S You can read more about the COP30 outcome here on the 350 Blog.

Sources
1 Thousands hit streets of Belém to call for action during crucial COP30 summit - The Guardian, November 15, 2025
2-3 COP30 Ends With New Promises But No Plan to Deliver: Fossil Fuel Phase-Out and Adaptation Finance Still Inadequate - 350.org - November 22, 2025