Can COP30 In Brazil Deliver A Climate Breakthrough?

Brazil Bets Big On COP30 For A Global Climate Reset

Brazil’s top climate negotiator, Andre Aranha Correa do Lago, isn’t mincing words. Change is coming—whether the world chooses it or gets forced into it by climate disaster. A former ambassador to India, he’s making it clear: unchecked global warming will rip through societies, economies, and homes. But there’s still a chance to shape a different future.

With COP30 approaching, Brazil is pushing hard to build momentum. Hosting the summit isn’t just symbolic—it means driving negotiations, rallying countries, and making sure real action follows. The event, set for November 10-21 in Belem, comes at a tense time. Global emissions are still too high. Climate funding is lagging. And with past political shifts like Trump’s withdrawal from climate deals, international commitment feels shaky.

One major goal? Securing a pathway to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually for developing nations by 2035—far beyond the $300 billion set at COP29 in Baku. While Brazil can’t undo Baku’s agreements, they’re looking for ways to close the gap. Enter the ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap to 1.3T’ initiative, designed to scale up climate finance.

Brazil is also pushing for an interim review of global climate progress. The first major stocktake under the Paris Agreement happened at COP28, and the next isn’t due until 2028. That’s too long of a wait. Brazil wants a blunt, no-nonsense assessment of what’s blocking real progress.

Another big move? The “Circle of Presidencies.” This brings together hosts from COP21 (Paris) to COP29 (Baku), along with key biodiversity and land restoration leaders. The goal: merge expertise, boost ambition, and tie climate, biodiversity, and desertification efforts together.

Brazil’s message is simple. No more stalled negotiations. No more empty promises. COP30 has to be about real, game-changing action.

South Sudan’s Women Battle Deadly Heatwave Fueled By Climate Change

Women and girls in South Sudan are facing even greater health risks and worsening inequality as climate change fuels record-breaking heat, researchers have found. The country, already struggling with conflict, is now dealing with extreme temperatures that are making life even harder.

A new study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group, published ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, found that February’s heatwave was made about ten times more likely—and 2°C hotter—because of human-caused climate change.

The scorching heat has had serious consequences. Last month, dozens of students collapsed from heatstroke in the capital, Juba, forcing schools to shut down for weeks. This is now a recurring issue—South Sudan closed schools for the same reason last year when temperatures hit 45°C in March. Typically, the country’s hottest months don’t start as early as February, making this unusual, scientists said.

Most schools have iron roofs that trap heat, and without air conditioning, classrooms become unbearable. With temperatures expected to remain high through March, the situation isn’t improving anytime soon.

Women and girls are hit the hardest by these heatwaves. When schools close, girls are less likely to return, deepening the education gap. Meanwhile, women’s daily responsibilities—like household chores and jobs requiring outdoor labor—expose them to extreme heat, increasing their risk of heat-related illnesses.

To combat this, better ventilation, tree planting, and painting schools in lighter colors can help cool classrooms, said Kiswendsida Guigma, a climate scientist at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. Adjusting school calendars and class schedules could also minimize disruptions.

Climate Change, Gender Inequality, and Rising Risks

Friederike Otto, WWA’s lead scientist and a senior lecturer at Imperial College London, said the findings highlight how climate disasters hit those already facing inequality the hardest. South Sudan’s frequent heatwaves are worsening gender divides, as women often have no choice but to expose themselves to extreme temperatures while caring for their families.

Globally, women are more likely to die during extreme weather events and suffer from food shortages and violence in the aftermath, Otto noted. The key to breaking this cycle? Reducing inequalities and cutting emissions from fossil fuels.

Deadly Consequences for Pregnant Women

The study, conducted by 17 researchers from institutions in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Uganda, the US, the UK, and beyond, found that this year’s extreme heat in South Sudan would have been “extremely unlikely” without climate change. Compared to pre-industrial times, the world has warmed by about 1.3°C, making these heatwaves about 4°C hotter than they would have been.

The consequences are severe. Rising temperatures increase the risk of miscarriage and stillbirths, adding further dangers to pregnancy and childbirth. South Sudan already has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world—1,223 women die for every 100,000 births.

Emmanuel Raju, one of the study’s authors from the University of Copenhagen, pointed out that women and girls worldwide continue to bear the brunt of climate change due to existing social inequalities. In many parts of the Global South, the crisis forces women into deeper debt, heavier caregiving responsibilities, and longer journeys for water.

Extreme Heat Becoming the New Normal

South Sudan’s scorching 40°C heatwaves, once rare, are now becoming common. Researchers say that with the current 1.3°C of global warming, such extreme events in February now happen about once every decade. If fossil fuel use continues unchecked, similar heat waves could become an annual occurrence by 2100, when warming is expected to reach 2.6°C.

WWA researcher Sarah Kew from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute warned that 40°C heatwaves are no longer exceptions in South Sudan—they are becoming the new normal.

“Once rare, these extreme temperatures are now happening every two years,” she said. “And without a rapid shift away from fossil fuels, things will only get worse.”Bakar Labs to Launch the World’s Largest Climate Tech Incubator

Turkiye Turns to Energy-Efficient Motors To Tackle Climate Change

Usak, a city of 500,000 in western Türkiye, is known for its vibrant wool rugs called kilims. Traditionally handwoven, these rugs are now mass-produced using machines.

While automation has sped up production, it comes with a cost. The machinery relies on outdated, energy-hungry electric motors, many of which are inefficient, costly to maintain, and noisy.

"Old electric motors are not just inefficient, but also expensive to run and maintain," says Patrick Blake, a UNEP Programme Officer.

However, one company is changing that. Berni Yarns Factory, a producer of yarn for kilims, has swapped out 12 of its aging motors—about 10% of its machines—for modern, energy-efficient models. The impact is significant. By using less electricity, largely sourced from fossil fuels, the plant will cut 18 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year. Additionally, the new motors have made operations smoother by reducing breakdowns.

"For us, this was about more than just cost savings," says plant manager Münevver Şenol. "It brought quality, sustainability, and reliability."

The Bigger Picture

Efforts like this are expected to be a major discussion point at the 2025 SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados, co-hosted by the Sustainable Energy for All initiative and the Barbadian government, led by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.

As climate change accelerates, global temperatures could rise 2.6–3.1°C by the end of the century if current policies continue. This would fuel extreme weather events like droughts, heat waves, and floods. However, new climate policies set for this year present an opportunity to curb emissions while creating millions of jobs in clean energy sectors.

The International Energy Agency estimates that improving energy efficiency alone could account for 40% of the emissions reductions needed to meet the Paris Agreement targets.

Türkiye’s Push for Energy Efficiency

The Berni Yarns project is part of TEVMOT, a $33 million initiative led by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Türkiye’s Ministry of Industry and Technology. Funded by the Global Environment Facility and supported by the UN Environment Programme’s United for Efficiency (U4E) program, TEVMOT has replaced 363 motors in 48 small businesses across Türkiye.

The result? 1.5 gigawatt hours of electricity saved per year, preventing 685 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The initiative has also allocated $1.2 million to upgrade the Türkiye Standards Institute’s motor testing facility and educate small businesses on the benefits of energy-efficient motors.

"Switching to modern motors offers real savings and reduces Türkiye’s reliance on fossil fuels," says Blake.

Cutting Emissions & Costs

Türkiye heavily depends on imported energy, with nearly 60% of its electricity coming from fossil fuels. Industry alone accounts for 46% of electricity consumption, and 70% of that is driven by electric motors.

U4E data suggests that replacing all inefficient motors in Türkiye could save 0.9–1.9 terawatt hours of electricity annually, cutting 500,000 to 1 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions by 2040. This would also reduce electricity bills by $84–166 million per year.

Blake emphasizes the opportunity: "Energy-efficient motors can make a huge difference in reducing emissions."

A Sustainable Future

In the next 20 years, the number of electric motors in Türkiye is expected to double. Without energy-efficient upgrades, the country may need to build new power plants to meet demand.

The shift to high-efficiency motors supports Türkiye’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2053. Lütfi Tuğra Uysun, Energy Manager of Uşak’s Organized Industrial Zone, reinforces the message: "Efficient motors save electricity costs and lower a company’s carbon footprint."

The Global Fight Against Climate Change

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is working to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5–2°C. UNEP’s Sectoral Solution roadmap identifies six key sectors—energy, industry, agriculture, forests, transport, and cities—to drive emissions reductions and stabilize the climate.

By embracing energy efficiency, businesses like Berni Yarns are proving that sustainability and economic growth can go hand in hand.

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