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What COP30 Can Teach us About Climate Conversations
November 2025
What COP30 Can Teach us About Climate Conversations
COP30 concludes in Belém, Brazil this week having generated several sensational headlines. For the first time in history, the US was unrepresented by an official delegation. Some countries were priced out of attendance by rooms costing over US$1,000 a night. And indigenous groups breached security barriers in a clash that resulted in minor injuries.
Yet, COP30 brought several big wins for the environment. The Brazilian presidency departed from recent COP norms by pushing for an early agreement, with fossil fuel phaseout high on the agenda. With the US absent from the picture, Asean and other developing nations are setting the agenda for a just transition that decarbonises their economies in a fair and inclusive way.
As these countries and regions take greater ownership of their decarbonisation journeys, their climate communications must become more sophisticated. Stakeholders should be engaged and actions explained.
The positive momentum at COP30 was at times overshadowed by burning effigies of Brazil’s president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and protestors declaring “our forest is not for sale”. These protests drew attention because recent COP events have been hosted amid crackdowns on activism. The protests were a reminder that dissent cannot be silenced for long.
As the world works out the best way towards a net zero future, effective communication will be an essential component of success. Climate conversations are not just about preventing protests. They are also about paving the way for positive action.
A closer look at coal phaseouts
Among the significant developments announced at COP30 was a roadmap for the early retirement of coal-fired power plants in Asia. Released in the form of a report by the Transition Credits Coalition, a multi-stakeholder initiative convened by the Monetary Authority of Singapore at COP28, it outlines practical solutions for the development of energy transition credits that will finance this transition.
The report notes that a just transition is central to the credibility and long-term viability of early coal phaseouts in Asia. Communities reliant on coal assets face profound economic and social impacts from phaseouts, including job losses and displacement. Renewable energy projects can lead to unintended ecological damage and land-use conflicts. Failing to acknowledge these potential negative outcomes can erode trust, stall projects and undermine climate progress.
Where projects are succeeding or gaining traction, there has been early community engagement. The report cites the example of how PLN, Indonesia’s state-owned power utility, is working to scale its clean energy solutions. The company’s engagements include training staff in biodiversity safeguards and developing communications plans around indigenous peoples.
Communications for a just transition
1. There is no one size fits all approach
Communities in different markets will have distinct priorities and constraints, and applying the same engagement strategy will come off as insincere. Tailoring your communication approach to the local context ensures relevance and resonates with the specific needs and values of the target stakeholder groups, fostering genuine dialogue instead of tokenistic consultation.
2. Secure a trusted local community partner
Effective engagement requires navigating local governance structures and sensitivities. For instance, securing project permits might be a formal process in one market but highly relationship-based in another. Misreading these dynamics can derail timelines, damage credibility and heighten local opposition. Having a local community partner to facilitate authentic dialogue and co-design solutions will help bridge your intentions with the grassroots realities
3.Honesty is the best policy
People value transparency. Clear communication about trade-offs, timelines, risks, and uncertainties builds credibility, even when the message is difficult. Openness lays the groundwork for trust, which is essential for successfully establishing a long-term relationship with your target stakeholders.
COP30 reinforces what communicators have long known: Climate ambition without genuine engagement is fragile. As the world pushes forward on the energy transition, the conversations we choose to have — and how we choose to have them — will determine whether climate action succeeds not just on paper, but on the ground.
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