UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell Transcript of opening remarks at closing press conference at COP30 Nov 23, 2025

UN Secretary-General António Guterres meets with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil (Photo: © UN Climate Change - Kiara Worth)

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell

Transcript of opening remarks at closing press conference at COP30

22 November 2025, approx 6:30 pm

Belém, Brazil

So COP30 showed that climate cooperation is alive and kicking. Keeping humanity in the fight for a livable planet. And that’s despite roaring political headwinds.

That, while one country stepped back. 194 countries have stood firm in solidarity. Rock-solid in support of climate cooperation.

With or without Navigation Aids, the direction of travel is clear: the shift from fossil fuels to renewables and resilience is unstoppable, and it’s gathering pace.

Now. I want to unpack these outcomes. As quickly and as clearly as I can:

I want to start with the Action Agenda. It is a vital part of Paris, and it’s certainly not a sideshow. What we saw through the Action Agenda activities is:

A trillion dollars for clean grids.

Hundreds of millions of hectares of forest, land, and oceans have been protected or restored.

Over 400 million people are becoming more resilient.

And much more.

Now on to the negotiated text, which can be hard to understand. And I rely on your expertise to simplify this for your readers and your viewers. But let me highlight and decode three important parts of the text:

The first is, we reached a unanimous agreement on key agenda items.

Just transition, gender, and the tripling of adaptation finance.

This work aims to make lives better for workers, women and girls, and people all across the world, particularly those in vulnerable developing countries. And it should not be minimised.

Second, the Mutirao text sent unprecedented political signals.

Let me point to a few key pieces:

So first of all, paragraph 11 - 194 countries agreed: “the Paris Agreement is working and resolves to go further and faster.”

This means every country here is Rock solid behind Paris.

Also, 194 countries agreed that 1.5 degrees is still our goal.

Paragraph 10 couldn’t be clearer - “the global transition towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development is irreversible and the trend of the future.”

Throughout the text, and from leader after leader here and in New York, it's clear: nations are ramping up climate action. Because it’s in their national interest. Because it creates economic growth.

Third and finally. Let's not ignore how far this COP has moved us forward.

The Mutirao shines a light on a path forward and a clear acceleration in response to the urgency of the climate crisis.

This text in paragraph 15 recalls every previous decision. Including what was agreed in Dubai on energy transitions and what we agreed in Baku on finance.

Paragraph 29 - “all actors to work together to significantly accelerate and scale up climate action worldwide.” - We must go further and faster.

Paragraph 33 - countries will now work to make progress on their national climate plans - “a view to accelerate the full implementation of nationally determined contributions while striving to do better collectively and cooperatively.”

Paragraph 52 - We agreed last year on a goal for finance; this year, we’ve agreed to move forward to make that real. Finance is the great enabler of climate action.

So I understand the various frustrations of different groups on different issues.

Many countries wanted to move faster on fossil fuels, finance, and respond to spiraling climate disasters.

But, with or without Navigation Aids, our direction is clear: the shift from fossil fuels to renewables and resilience is unstoppable.

We’re building - day by day, step by step, COP by COP - a better world. For billions more people, in every part of the world.

Happy to take some questions.