COP30: Why Brazil Could Accelerate Climate Action and What Brands Should Do Now

As the climate conversation heads to Belém, Brazil - the gateway to the Amazon, COP30 is shaping up to be a defining moment. With the United States expected to play a limited role, the conference could move faster, focused on real delivery rather than political delay. Under Brazil’s presidency, the priorities are clear: forests, finance and faster progress. The EU and other key players are ready to act and history suggests that when Washington steps aside, others step up. 

The agenda will centre on new national climate plans to 2035, known as NDCs, setting sector-level expectations that will shape regulation and investment. Brands should monitor these signals closely, prepare clear communications and ensure every claim is backed by evidence. 

Brazil’s proposed “Tropical Forest Forever Facility” a $125 billion initiative linking public and private capital to verified forest outcomes signals a new era of measurable nature finance. Silence or vague promises will no longer be enough. 

New rules for carbon markets and climate finance will demand integrity and transparency, those who connect financial tools to real-world outcomes faster, cheaper, more credible will earn trust and lead the conversation. 

COP30 won’t just be another summit; it’s a chance to turn commitments into action. The brands that move first, communicate clearly and prove their progress will define what leadership looks like in the decade ahead. 

Read Zeno’s full “Outside The Room” COP30 report to find out more here.