Brazil, host for COP 30, has urged climate campaigners to revisit and strengthen their National Adaptation Plans, chiefly-plans on cutting down on emissions of GreenHouse Gases as the deadline for the UN General Assembly set for 25 Sept. draws near.

Despite repeated pleas for serious consideration for key emitters, China, Japan, India, United States, among others, have folded their arms and are not part of the 28 countries that have submitted carbon-cutting proposals to the UN.

It remains unclear if they have devised any NAP as required of all COP members attending the 11-21 Belem global conference-the 30th edition.

Toni, chief executive of COP 30 has issued a clarion call to all countries travelling to Brazil to come forward with strengthened national plans on the climate, in a last-ditch attempt to meet a key September deadline ahead of the November meeting to be presided over by André Corrêa do Lago, the veteran Brazilian diplomat.

Early this week, Brazil, which will host the crunch Cop30 UN climate summit this November, summoned all governments to a key meeting on 25 September, on the sidelines of the UN annual general assembly in New York.

The UN needs all national plans – known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs) – by that date to compile a “synthesis report”, which will show how far off track the world is on the crucial goal of limiting global heating to 1.5C above pre industrial levels.

Recently, do Lago wrote to Brazilian governments urging them to submit ambitious NDCs. He warned that if they were not strong enough, then, further action would be needed at Cop30, arguing:

“Far from representing mere climate targets for 2035, our NDCs represent the vision of our shared future. They are vehicles of cooperation, enabling us to realise this vision together.

If the image shown by NDCs turns out disappointing, it is our collective responsibility to convert it into a picture that will ensure a livable planet, protect all economies, and improve living standards and life opportunities for all peoples, for all generations.”

Brazil has markedly stepped up its diplomatic efforts in the past week, as the prospects for COP 30 look increasingly difficult. Brazil’s President, Lula da Silva, held a one-hour call with China’s Xi Jinping last week and discussed the climate as a matter of priority.

Do Lago said: “We are quite convinced that China will publish an ambitious NDC in time for the synthesis report. We are very confident that China is taking this exercise very seriously.”

The “presidency consultation” meeting called for 25 September is a new departure, as such meetings normally only take place during the final stages of Cops.

It will be followed by another on 15 October, both aimed at preventing the gridlock that has afflicted recent UN climate meetings, at which negotiations have been unable to start on time because of disagreements over what should be on the agenda.

But the Cop30 presidency has been beset by problems amid a worsening geopolitical situation, reinforced by Donald Trump’s red-carpet treatment of Vladimir Putin last week in Alaska.

Trump has withdrawn the US from the Paris climate agreement, and Putin’s war in Ukraine has proved a bonanza for fossil fuel interests.

Brazil has also suffered obstacles of its own making, including the siting of the summit in Belém, a small city at the mouth of the Amazon River.

Developing countries and civil society groups have grown increasingly anxious at the lack of hotels and other accommodation, and the high prices charged.

There are questions over whether Belém’s airport has the capacity and security needed for the scores of world leaders who have been invited.

Belém only has about 18,000 hotel rooms in normal times, while about 50,000 people are expected to attend Cop30 from across the globe, a crunch meeting which is expected to revisit most of the unfinished business from COP 28.

While Brazil’s government has commissioned two large cruise ships to moor at Belém for about 6,000 attenders, and set up a platform for Belém residents to rent out rooms and apartments, the cheapest rooms are about $400 a night for the fortnight of talks, with many hotel rooms priced at well over $1,000 a night.

These are daunting sums for many of the most vulnerable countries, who can only afford to send a handful of delegates in contrast to the scores of officials sent by some of the biggest emitters. Civil society groups and media organisations have also warned they are being shut out of the event.

Ana Toni, is optimistic of a good conference with considerable pricing on various goods and services including accommodation, which many campaigners argue is ‘slightly on the high side’
She had contended: “Prices have started to come down and we expect that to continue.”

Brazil has also made key concessions to other countries over what will be on the agenda for Cop30. While NDCs are crucial to global climate action, they were not originally set to be the focus of the Cop30 agenda, as Brazil maintained they would be settled before the summit and therefore not subject to negotiation.

However, many countries made it clear that discussing the NDCs and their impacts would be central to fulfilling the Paris agreement.

Do Lago said there would be opportunities for parties to discuss all key issues: “Some of the issues that the public in general expect more discussion on at Cop were not included in the agenda.

So what we want to do is make sure we are dealing with these issues, that are considered important by stakeholders. There is a huge debate about trust in these negotiations, and I firmly believe that transparency is essential.”

Zambia had from 12-15 August hosted the 10th global National Adaptation Plan expo, attracting over 450 delegates in collaboration with the UNFCCC’s Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) and themed, “Innovations in the NAP Process,”.

The three-day conference was focused on enhancing NAPs and secured funding and partnerships for climate resilience efforts.

The expo sought to promote partnerships, facilitate experience sharing, and drive ambition in climate adaptation through the formulation and implementation of NAPs.

Zambia’s hosting of the event highlights its commitment to climate action, especially following recent severe drought impacts. The expo served as a platform to mobilize funding and partnerships for Zambia’s $34.7 billion National Adaptation Plan.

Zambia had the chance to showcase its own adaptation efforts, learn from other countries, and gain global attention for its leadership in climate resilience.

Zambia’s environment minister Mike Mposha called for sustained funding for countries to improve their energy technological transformation and the urgency of climate adaptation.

He highlighted the role of strong partnerships in unlocking finance from mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, and Adaptation Fund.

This was in addition to the importance of ensuring that adaptation efforts are inclusive and locally grounded.