We Can't Eat Money: The Trouble With Focusing Too Much on Climate Money

A Story of Two Summits: How COP30 Focused on Money Instead of the Planet and People

Introduction: The Hope and Problem of a COP in the Amazon

The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) took place in Belém, Brazil. Holding it there, at the entrance to the Amazon, a very important place that's close to collapsing, was meant to be a big moment for action on climate change. This setting was made even more complicated by the US federal government not sending an official group— the first time in 30 years of UN talks that the world's biggest historical polluter wasn't there. This made things tough, but it also gave other countries a chance to push for real progress.

Even with this pressing situation, COP30 became a story of things not making sense. This piece argues that the meeting focused too much on huge money plans instead of real protections that are needed for the planet's most important systems. While leaders argued about money, they didn't do enough to protect land, fix our bad food systems, or support the native people who take care of the world's resources.

In the end, Belém was home to two separate and opposing meetings. One was about money deals, business interests, and careful agreements that only dealt with the symptoms of the climate problem, not the cause. The other was about real struggles, where native people, farmers, and activists fought for their lives, but weren't heard by the powerful people in charge. This article looks at this split, showing how focusing on money hid a failure to protect the planet and its people.

The Money Cover-Up: Looking closely at the Numbers-First Plan

Money has always been a key part of global talks, meant to be how rich countries pay for the needs of poorer countries. At COP30, money was put first, seen as the way to make things happen. This became a way to avoid taking real action, using up time on money arguments that hid the lack of progress on real solutions.

The Baku to Belém plan set a goal of raising $1.3 trillion per year by 2035.

Rich countries agreed to give $300 billion per year by 2035.

A big part was to triple money for adaptation, using about $120 billion.

The Loss and Damage Fund only got $250 million in promises.

Land on the Line: The Amazon Problem

Holding a climate meeting in the Amazon was meant to push the world to protect its forests. But the agreements didn't do enough to stop destruction. Brazil's new Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) only raised 6.6 billion in promises, far from its 25 billion goal. Scientists warned that the Amazon is shifting from absorbing carbon to releasing it due to droughts and fires.

Controlling the Conversation: Big Agriculture

The global food system causes about a third of all greenhouse gas emissions. At COP30, more than 300 lobbyists from big agriculture were present. The meat and dairy industry sent the most people, ensuring that industrial food production stayed the same and keeping food emissions out of the spotlight.

Betrayal in Belém: Ignoring Native People

COP30 was called a potential People's COP, but native people were ignored. Dozens of protesters forced their way into high-security areas after being shut out. The stakes were highlighted by the murder of Vicente Fernandes Vilhalva, a leader shot dead while defending his community's land during the summit.

Conclusion: A Divided Summit

The result of COP30 is a story of two summits. One made big money goals for the future; the other failed to take urgent actions. Future talks must stop focusing on money and face the power of the fossil fuel and agriculture industries.