We Mean Business Coalition response to the COP30 Global Mutirão
We Mean Business Coalition
Maria Mendiluce, CEO, We Mean Business Coalition said: “The formal outcomes of COP30 fell way short of what is needed and do not match the speed of transition in the real economy. This is a missed opportunity to further accelerate the transition and its benefits. The support shown in Belém for stronger outcomes from many countries and the private sector – based on the clear evidence that clean electrification is already lowering costs, strengthening resilience and driving competitiveness — were not reflected sufficiently in the final text. While there is recognition of the urgency and gap in ambition, the signal of how countries will collectively respond to that remains weaker than what markets and technology demand.
“We welcome Brazil’s announcement in the final plenary that it will drive new Presidency-led roadmaps on fossil fuels and deforestation — with multistakeholder input — as potential next steps in shaping clearer direction for implementation. If these roadmaps provide practical guidance, engage ambitious businesses, and provide a platform for coordinated action, they can help countries and businesses navigate the transition with greater confidence.
“This goes some way to responding to the call from more than 80 countries representing one third of global fossil fuel imports who showed their leadership in backing a roadmap away from oil, gas and coal because they see the transition makes economic sense. Nonetheless, those who put their line in the sand against a formal roadmap because of vested fossil fuel interests need to understand that blocking does not stop the transition, it simply lessens the chance to manage it in an orderly, equitable and fair way through the Paris Agreement. But business does not wait for perfect politics and will continue to scale clean solutions because it’s economically sound; and investment into renewables, clean electrification, EVs, grids and storage will continue to surge.
“The Global Implementation Accelerator could provide a framework for meaningful multilateral and multistakeholder engagement on closing the ambition and implementation gaps, and delivering on the Global Stocktake commitments – including the transition away from fossil fuels and reversing deforestation. It must provide for meaningful engagements between businesses and governments at the heart of the process, building on the progress made with this year’s Action Agenda.
“Now the task shifts to implementation at home. Countries must double down on ensuring enabling environments for faster implementation including realigning incentives, phasing out inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies and backing clean electrification at scale. A stronger global framework remains essential, but day-to-day policy decisions will determine whether the momentum we see in the real economy becomes the global norm.
“Ambitious businesses showed up in Belém in significant numbers. Companies committed time and senior voices because they understand the stakes, but they are pragmatic – continued engagement depends on whether attendance is worth their while. The new ‘accelerator’ must provide consistent, substantive avenues for business-government engagement, building on the practical cooperation established through the Action Agenda. Looking ahead to COP31, multilateralism and the Paris Agreement matter more than ever – no country can manage the transition alone. But the world has changed a lot since the COP process began in 1992. In this era of implementation and economic transition, the world cannot afford a multilateral system that falls behind real economy progress.”