World leaders, scientists and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) will soon gather in Brazil for their annual meeting on how to tackle climate change.
COP30 is taking place at a crucial moment, with global climate targets under significant strain. It is ten years after the Paris Climate Agreement, in which countries pledged to try to restrict the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C.
Australia is also hoping to secure COP31 hosting rights for next year.
More transparency needed on how climate finance funds are accessed
Climate finance expert Dr Niranjika Wijesooriya Gunarathne from the Net Zero Institute said the US300 billion pledged during COP29 last year to help developing countries protect their people and economies from climate disasters is hardly enough for the transition to net zero.
"In COP29 last year, US 300 billion per year was pledged to help developing countries protect their people and economies from climate disasters. But what can we actually achieve with US 300 billion?
"US300 billion is hardly enough for the transition to net zero. Currently there is not enough transparency or visibility to how the countries most in need can access this support."
Dr Wijesooriya Gunarathne is currently building a new process to help organisations in developing nations access climate finance funds called Integrated NetZero Strategy valuation. She will also be publishing a podcast series "Think NetZero" hosted by the Net Zero Institute concurrent to COP30 this year.
"We need to revisit the funding requirements with the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) - climate action plans submitted by each country under the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change).
"This calls for establishing mandatory and standardised NDCs that include the required cashflow modelling.
"In addition COP30 could be a turning point for Australia it they host COP31. It offers an invaluable opportunity for the country to be a leader in technology and innovation. Australia's transition to Net Zero will not doubt have an impact on the global transition with its very high per capita emissions."
Climate crisis intertwined with biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and geopolitical tensions
Luisa F Bedoya Taborda, environmental lawyer and PhD candidate in climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation in the School of Project Management says the lived experiences and realities of different communities impact by the climate crisis around the world have made it difficult to continue debating the reality of climate change.
"Climate-related disasters have displaced over 26 million people globally and caused over AU$380 billion in damages.
"As representatives prepare for COP30, news and studies indicate that we are off track.
"From farmers confronting record droughts to coastal communities with rising sea levels, people are already living the consequences of delayed action.
"Australia's commitment to reduce emissions is a positive step, but without urgent, evidence-based implementation, these goals may not be achieved.
"Climate policy needs to confront climate change and the intersecting vulnerabilities, because the climate crisis does not exist in isolation. It is intertwined with biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and geopolitical tensions. Responding to these issues requires coordinated, cross-sectoral responses that recognise climate action as a fundamental foundation for peace and ecological stability."
Developing countries need up to US$365 billion annually to adapt to climate crisis
Associate Professor Michele Barnes , Head of the Social Dynamics and Environmental Change Lab , School of Project Management & Sydney Environment Institute says COP30 must move beyond promises, especially on climate finance to help developing countries to adapt to the impact of climate change.
"The UNEP Adaptation Gap Report 2025 is a wake-up call: developing countries need up to US$365 billion annually by 2035 to adapt, yet received just US$26 billion in 2023. This gap is more than financial - it's a failure of global solidarity.
"For reef-dependent and coastal communities, many of whom I've worked with for over a decade, adaptation is not a cost - it's a lifeline. These communities are navigating compounding risks that threaten their very lives and livelihoods, and they deserve to be at the centre of climate finance and policy.
"COP30 must move beyond promises. That means scaling public finance for the most vulnerable, unlocking private investment through equitable mechanisms, and mainstreaming adaptation into development planning. But finance alone isn't enough, we need strategies that work.
Associate Professor Barnes was also the only Australian on the expert editorial board in 'Resilience Science Must-Knows', a global landmark report launched ahead of COP30. The report provides decision-makers with a science-based roadmap for turning finance into meaningful action.
"The report shows how resilience is built through agency, relationships, and systems-aware planning - not just infrastructure - to create futures that are fair, inclusive, and sustainable," says A/ Prof Barnes.
"Looking ahead to COP31, Australia has an opportunity to lead by example and champion climate finance that supports transformation, not just recovery."
Ecological recovery can take decades
Environmental conservation expert Dr Matthew Clarke from the School of Geosciences said third of carbon offset and biodiversity programs are abandoned only after a few years, compromising biodiversity efforts.
"More than US$87 billion is spent on conserving nature annually. This includes programs that aim to offset carbon emissions through the protection of forests or grasslands, for example.
"While these investments are essential for meeting both carbon and biodiversity goals, we have virtually no line of sight on how long these programs endure, with evidence suggesting that at least one third are abandoned just a few years after implementation.
"This blind spot potentially compromises progress announced at events like COP, as ecological recovery can take decades, and only counting implementation will inevitably inflate estimates of progress," said Dr Clarke, who is also an honorary research associate in the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London.
Australia in prime position to contribute to net zero transition
Renewable and clean energy expert Professor Thomas Maschmeyer from the School of Chemistry said it is now more important than ever to decarbonise our economy.
"Electrification with renewable sources is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to achieve this. Storage solutions are central to this transition and Australia is in a prime position to contribute as well as benefit."
"Due to the ever-increasing evidence that feedback mechanisms are continuously accelerating global warming, it is now more important than ever to decarbonise our economies.
Professor Kondo-Francois Aguey-Zinsou from the School of Chemistry adds:
"Australia is particularly exposed to the risk of climate change, threatening housing affordability, food security, and, more globally, industry competitive advantages.
"While some incentives have been put forward, there is still a major gap in recognising the importance of building a skilled workforce and the critical need for research and development to fuel solutions that enable resilience and preparation systems."
Health should be centre of climate change negotiations
Associate Professor Ying Zhang is an epidemiologist from the School of Public Health said health should be at the centre of all climate change negotiations and governance to build resilience.
Since 1997, she has been Co-Chair of the MJA-Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change in Australia, which produces annual reports to track progress on health and climate change.
The 2025 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change was recently published.
