Smart Net-Zero

November 26, 2025 | Carbon Brief |

COP30 in Belém delivered mixed outcomes for food systems, forests, land, and nature. While negotiators advanced several initiatives under the Brazilian presidency’s “Global Mutirão” agenda, formal outcomes on agriculture remained limited. A major highlight was the launch of the Tropical Forest Fund, which secured USD 6.6 billion in pledges to support forest protection and land restoration. Indigenous participation and land-rights financing also reached new highs. While the core “Global Mutirão” decision text referenced biodiversity, land rights, and deforestation, it did not explicitly address food systems. At the same time, parties agreed on 5 indicators under the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) that track progress on climate resilience and sustainable food systems. Overall, COP30 reaffirmed forests and land use as priority entry points for climate finance, while highlighting ongoing political sensitivity around integrating food systems more directly into UNFCCC decision texts.