COP30 Daily News- Day 9

BLUE ZONE

Day 9 at COP30 placed forests, oceans, biodiversity, Indigenous peoples, local communities, youth, and SMEs at the center of the agenda, underscoring that these ecosystems and groups are essential to both life and economic resilience. The day emphasized a unified approach to protecting vital ecosystems while strengthening community resilience and advancing climate adaptation. High-level ministerials showcased progress on ocean commitments, the Blue NDC Challenge, and efforts to align climate, land, and biodiversity agendas. Throughout the Blue Zone, countries, Indigenous groups, SMEs, and partners highlighted how innovation and local leadership drive nature-positive development, while key launches such as the NAP Implementation Alliance and the Global Ethical Stocktake reinforced the importance of fairness, responsibility, and ethical implementation of the Paris Agreement. The tone was practical and action-oriented, with negotiators stressing the need for clearer financial pathways, faster timelines, and more inclusive implementation strategies. Multiple events, technical discussions, and negotiation updates all highlighted a consistent theme: the urgent need to bridge the gap between past commitments and real, on-the-ground climate action, underscoring that protecting ecosystems ultimately means protecting people and securing a sustainable future.

Outcomes of November 17th Sessions and High-Level Meetings

Advancing Ocean and Coastal Action

Day 9 at COP30 saw major momentum in ocean conservation, with 17 countries joining the Blue NDC Challenge and committing to integrating ocean-based solutions into their national climate plans. New monitoring tools such as the Ocean Breakthroughs Implementation Dashboard and the Ocean Health & Marine Biodiversity Tool were launched to help countries track measurable progress. Governments also advanced large-scale solutions through the Blue Package and the launch of the One Ocean Partnership, which aims to create a global network of regenerative seascapes, mobilize USD 20 billion in investment, and generate 20 million jobs by 2030. Additional breakthroughs included the Mangrove Breakthrough, unlocking USD 80 million toward its USD 4 billion target, and the Saltmarsh Breakthrough, aiming to restore 500,000 hectares by 2030, marking a strong shift toward practical, high-impact ecosystem implementation.

Synergies Across the Rio Conventions

In a historic move, the five current and future presidencies of the Rio Conventions are Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Armenia, and Mongolia, issued a joint declaration to strengthen coherence across efforts on climate, biodiversity, and land restoration. The announcement emphasized collaboration with non-state actors to scale real-world impact and align actions across the Global Climate Action Agenda, the Riyadh Action Agenda, and outcomes of CBD COP16. Complementing this, fifteen governments and more than 300 industry partners launched the Building for Forests Acceleration Plan to scale responsible timber construction, reduce emissions in the building sector, and promote forest-positive development under the Principles for Responsible Timber Construction.

Accelerating Adaptation Planning

The launch of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Implementation Alliance marked a key milestone in accelerating adaptation delivery. Initiated by UNDP, Italy, Germany, and Brazil with strong backing from multilateral banks, investors, and adaptation-focused organizations the Alliance aims to improve coordination, align support services, and mobilize both public and private finance to implement NAPs. With participation from countries such as Vanuatu and Kenya, and institutions including the Green Climate Fund, Asian Development Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank, the Alliance seeks to ensure that national adaptation plans translate into concrete, investment-ready actions.

Ethics, Justice, Youth, and Indigenous Leadership

Equity and justice were central themes throughout the day. A high-level session on the Global Ethical Stocktake launched the GES Global Report, presenting ethical, cultural, and justice-based recommendations to accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement. Leaders, including Mary Robinson, Michelle Bachelet, Marina Silva, and Simon Stiell, emphasized how moral responsibility and cultural listening strengthen climate accountability. Youth and children were also at the forefront, with discussions led by young leaders from marginalized communities highlighting how race, gender, disability, and geography shape climate vulnerability. Indigenous and traditional communities advanced climate solutions through sessions showcasing renewable energy projects, ancestral knowledge, women’s leadership, territorial governance, and community-driven adaptation, reinforcing their essential role in protecting the Amazon and driving just, locally rooted climate action.

Energy Transition and Efficiency Commitments

In addition to the ecosystem and community-focused discussions, Day 9 also saw a major development in the energy transition agenda. Mission Efficiency, a global coalition hosted by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), launched the Plan to Accelerate Doubling Energy Efficiency (PAS), a coordinated roadmap designed to help countries double energy efficiency by 2030. Bringing together over 30 international partners and more than 50 coordinated actions, the plan provides policy frameworks, training programmes, and investment pipelines to turn efficiency commitments into measurable results. A key feature is the new Energy Efficiency De-Risking Platform, which connects investors with efficiency projects and standardizes tools to lower risk and unlock capital. This initiative positions energy efficiency as one of the most cost-effective climate solutions and a significant investment opportunity, aligning closely with COP30’s focus on implementation and the transition of energy, industry, and transportation systems.

In Conclusion, Day 9 demonstrated that COP30 is moving clearly into the implementation phase, with practical and technically detailed announcements tied to measurable outcomes across every thematic area. From oceans, forests, SMEs, and biodiversity to ethics, youth, Indigenous leadership, and energy efficiency, the focus centered on establishing clear financing pathways, deploying transparent monitoring tools, strengthening cross-sector coordination, and empowering local and traditional communities. The breadth of initiatives launched from the One Ocean Partnership and ecosystem breakthroughs to SME support campaigns, Rio Convention synergies, the NAP Implementation Alliance, and the Mission Efficiency plan reflected a collective determination to turn commitments into action. While the momentum is undeniable, the key question remains whether this expanding set of pledges will deliver real, on-the-ground impact at the speed and scale the climate crisis demands. Day 9 offered encouraging signs of alignment and ambition, but the coming days will be crucial in determining how effectively these solutions move from technical plans and political declarations to tangible results for people, ecosystems, and economies worldwide.

COP30 Daily Briefing

GREEN ZONE – Public, Industry, Academia, NGO Space

Themes: Forests, Oceans, Biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples, Local and Traditional Communities, Children and Youth, and Small and Medium Entrepreneurs.

Centering SMEs in Climate Action

At COP30, the Global Climate Finance Forum (GCFF) co-hosted a major session with the SME Climate Hub, the International Trade Centre’s Green and Inclusive Value Chains program (ITC-GIVC), and Bankers for Net Zero (B4NZ). The event, titled “Centering SMEs in Climate Action: Building the Ecosystem for Scale,” explored a key question:

Why Is Climate Finance so Important, and What exactly Are We Trying to fFnance?

Speakers highlighted that large multinational companies typically have easy access to low-interest financing, allowing them to expand and decarbonize quickly. In contrast, SMEs, representing 90% of global businesses and supporting more than two billion livelihoods, face the greatest barriers to finance, despite being essential for meeting global climate targets. SMEs generate around 80% of local climate solutions, yet policy systems are not designed for them, access to capital is limited, and innovators on the ground lack the support needed to scale their work.

The panel was divided into: Global South SME Solution Showcases, short presentations from SMEs addressing innovative, investable business models that advance mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, showcasing impact in job creation, inclusive growth, community empowerment, and climate-positive supply-chain transformation.

Speakers Included:

SME, Luiza Alvear, VP Operations and Co-founder, Courageous Land (female, Brazil)
SME, Royford Mutegi, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Vermi-Farm Initiative (male, Kenya)

30-minute Panel Discussion Focused on Three Main Topics:

Policy and Regulation: Integrating SMEs into NDCs and procurement frameworks, introducing tax incentives, building local climate finance capacity, and aligning trade and industrial policies for climate-smart value chains, supported by globally standardized sustainability data frameworks.
Finance & Investment: Blended finance and other innovative financial instruments to de-risk and mobilize capital, empowering local financial actors and expanding SME access to green capital through globally standardized sustainability data frameworks that enhance transparency and strengthen SME bankability.
Capacity Building: Tools and programs from the SME Climate Hub and ITC (e.g., deforestation-free trade gateway, resource efficiency, SME Climate Hub Academy), alongside SME experiences using them, and integrating B4NZ’s global standardized data framework to strengthen SME capabilities in measuring, disclosing, and acting on sustainability data, enabling them to integrate more effectively into sustainable value chains.

During the session, SME founders showcased impactful climate solutions already in motion. One example was the Vermi-Farm Initiative, presented by Co-Founder and Managing Director Royford Mutegi. Vermi-Farm empowers smallholder farmers in Kenya, especially women and youth, by strengthening climate-resilient incomes. The initiative trains farmers in organic waste-to-fertiliser methods, regenerative agriculture, and climate-smart farming, improving soil health, increasing yields, and enhancing climate resilience. Beyond agriculture, Vermi-Farm supports financial inclusion and youth employment, creating fairer rural economic opportunities.

Event Organizers Noted Broader Achievements across Partners:

SME Climate Hub: 7,500+ SMEs committed to net zero, supported through free tools and training.
ITC-GIVC: Over 2,000 SMEs supported in adopting climate-smart, deforestation-free practices.
B4NZ: A global sustainability data framework improving SME access to green finance.
Courageous Land: Mobilized USD 35 million for agroforestry expansion across the Amazon and Atlantic Forest.

Speakers concluded that three areas must be strengthened:

Policy frameworks that better integrate SMEs.
Accessible and de-risked climate finance.
Capacity-building tools that enable SMEs to measure, disclose, and act on sustainability data.

The session made clear that transforming SMEs is essential for achieving global climate goals because they are the economic backbone of most countries, yet they face the greatest difficulty in accessing climate finance.

COP30 Broadcast Update

As part of the day’s broader programming, the COP30 broadcast “Aguarde o início da transmissão” became available on November 18. With the conference running from November 10 to 21, viewers can follow sessions through digital platforms, partner television networks, official COP30 media outlets, and federal government communication channels. This update was included in the daily podcast program to help audiences stay informed about COP30 activities.

BB Lixo Zero (Zero Waste) Program

In the Green Zone, one highlight was the presentation of the BB Lixo Zero Program by Banco do Brasil. Launched in January, the initiative improves urban waste management while strengthening income opportunities for waste pickers across Brazil. To date, the program has prevented 22 tons of recyclable materials from being improperly disposed of, operating across 512 bank branches with 21 cooperatives and benefiting more than 150 waste pickers.

The program also introduced a full traceability system to track the amount of waste collected and recycled. Banco do Brasil emphasized that efficient waste management plays a vital role in climate action, since poor disposal is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative was showcased at COP30 as a clear example of how social inclusion and environmental sustainability can advance together.

Launch of the Empreender Clima Platform

At COP30 in Belém, the Brazilian government launched Empreender Clima, a digital platform designed to help small businesses transition to a greener, low-carbon economy. Built through partnerships with national institutions, the platform provides affordable green credit, with interest rates starting at 4.4% annually and financing covering up to 100% of sustainable investments.

Entrepreneurs can create a quick profile, access free training, and obtain a fast pre-eligibility document for the Fundo Clima, Brazil’s main climate financing mechanism. Loan terms vary by sector, with long repayment periods and extended grace periods for projects such as clean mobility, green logistics, water and forest management, clean energy, and industrial decarbonization.

The goal is to ensure green finance is accessible not only to large corporations but also to micro and small businesses, supporting their role in Brazil’s ecological transition. The platform centralizes training resources, opportunity mapping, financing tools, and technical support in one place, enabling small businesses to grow sustainably.

Children and Youth Day & Indigenous Leadership in the Green Zone

In the Green Zone, COP30 dedicated the day to Children and Youth, highlighting their leadership in climate justice and inclusion. Youth Climate Champion Marcele Oliveira met with young leaders from across Brazil to explore how race, gender, disability, and territory shape the climate crisis for different communities. Voices from marginalized and frontline groups emphasized how climate impacts deepen inequalities and why youth participation in national and global climate policy is essential. A recommendations report will be prepared to strengthen youth inclusion in future decisions.

The Green Zone also hosted the People’s Circle, which brought together Indigenous peoples, quilombola communities, coastal women, and youth groups. Dialogues focused on gender and climate justice, forest protection, territorial governance, and community-driven adaptation. The sessions highlighted women’s leadership during climate emergencies, the impacts of mining on local territories, and the importance of ancestral knowledge in shaping sustainable bioeconomy pathways. Together, these discussions reinforced the essential role of Indigenous and traditional communities in safeguarding the Amazon and advancing fair, locally rooted climate solutions.

What to Expect on Day 10

Day 10 will continue with discussions centered on community empowerment, climate justice, and practical solutions driven by youth, Indigenous peoples, and traditional leaders, as COP30 moves forward.