Cop30 climate summit focuses on funding to help vulnerable nations survive climate disasters

As world leaders gather for the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, developing nations are pushing hard for a massive increase in funding to protect themselves from increasingly severe climate disasters. The spotlight has shifted toward “climate adaptation” – building the infrastructure and systems needed to survive floods, droughts, and extreme weather – rather than just preventing emissions.

Currently, wealthy nations provide only about $33 billion annually for adaptation efforts, but negotiators are discussing a plan to triple that to $120 billion by 2030. This funding gap reflects a broader imbalance: while rich countries caused most of the historical greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, poorer nations that contributed least to the problem are suffering the worst consequences and have the least resources to protect themselves.

The challenge is getting concrete commitments rather than vague promises. European Union officials acknowledge the need for more adaptation funding but won’t commit to specific dollar amounts. The situation is complicated by the absence of high-level U.S. officials at the summit, as the Trump administration has withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement and cut international climate funding. Other wealthy nations are also reducing aid spending due to economic pressures and competing priorities like the war in Ukraine.

For many developing country leaders, COP30’s success hinges on securing these billions in adaptation dollars along with clear metrics to track progress. As one Costa Rican climate official put it, “We really need more resources for adaptation” – because without financial support, climate agreements remain “just a hollow framework.”