News

As COP30 in Belém, Brazil drew to a close, Remco Fischer, Head of Climate for UNEP FI, and members of UNEP FI's Latin America and Caribbean-based team reflected on key outcomes from the climate negotiations, Brazil’s leadership, and private sector engagement on climate change these past two weeks—and have set out some of the implications for the global finance sector.

Read this article written by Eric Usher, Head of UNEP FI, for Eco-Business, on how financial institutions can make the most of the economic growth opportunity of the century.

Policymakers gathered at COP should provide roadmaps to ensure that the promises of the 2023 Global Stocktake translate into concrete delivery.

The transition to a sustainable economy is urgent, but it must be fair to all. This is especially true for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC): one of the most climate-vulnerable regions facing persistent social inequalities. UNEP FI’s latest report provides practical guidance on how banks and insurers operating in LAC can integrate just transition principles across their organizations.

The UN-convened Net-Zero Export Credit Agencies Alliance (NZECA) launches its first progress report in conjunction with Trade and Finance Day at COP30, detailing how it is working to align USD 338 billion of export support with pathways to net zero by 2050. Alongside the report, the alliance releases a paper on tailoring GHG accounting methodologies for trade finance.

Key developments in the COP30 negotiation process indicate a possible breakthrough in the establishment of a UN-regulated carbon market. Eric Usher, Head of UNEP FI, outlines what we can expect to be agreed and highlights some of the risks and opportunities for financial institutions.

As the impacts of climate change accelerate, climate adaptation — the process of adjusting systems, communities, and economies to changing climate conditions — is moving from the margins to the mainstream of climate action. For financial institutions, this shift is more than just a policy trend — it’s an emerging area of risk management, investment opportunity, and strategic relevance.

Ahead of COP30, members of the Transformational Finance for Climate Group* have released a new position paper, “Transformational Finance for Climate: Unlocking Systemic Effects”, to support the publication of the Baku to Belém Roadmap and inform other multilateral processes focused on Paris-aligned finance such as the Sharm el-Sheikh Dialogue.

This year’s COP30 takes place in the wake of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) ruling in July 2025. Explore how the ruling has far-reaching implications for States’ obligations but has also created business opportunities for financial institutions.

Ahead of COP30, Eric Usher, Head of UNEP FI, explains how financial institutions can take advantage of countries Nationally Determined Contributions, which are increasingly coupled with countries’ National Transition Plans, in order boost private investment in climate solutions.