In Short : Over 50 global leaders gathered in Brussels to shape the energy agenda for COP30 in Brazil. Key focus areas included advancing nuclear and renewable energy, securing \$1.3 trillion in climate finance, and forming a “Circle of Presidencies” for sustained climate action. The summit emphasized moving from negotiations to implementation, aiming for concrete, inclusive energy and climate solutions.
In Detail : The Brazilian COP30 Presidency and the International Energy Agency (IEA) today kicked off a new series of High-Level Energy Transition Dialogues that will bring together energy and climate leaders from around the world ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
Building on the strong role the Dialogues played in shaping the UAE Consensus reached at COP28 in Dubai and the energy outcomes achieved at COP29 in Baku, the 2025 series – held in close partnership with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat and the UN Secretary General’s Climate Action Team – will convene key decision-makers with the aim of informing the activities, outputs and outcomes of the COP30 climate change conference that are related to the energy sector.
The opening dialogue – which was co-chaired by COP30 President-Designate André Corrêa do Lago and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol – gathered more than 50 participants from across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America and beyond. It was hosted in Brussels by the European Commission with the support of President Ursula von der Leyen, with a keynote speech from Teresa Ribera, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.
At the event, Ambassador do Lago set out the Brazilian Presidency’s priorities, including for COP30 to serve as an “implementation COP” that can deliver action on recent energy commitments, such as those stemming from COP28, COP29 and the most recent round of Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.
Dr Birol laid out the state of play based on the latest IEA data. He noted that so far, global progress towards achieving those commitments has been mixed. For example, while the world’s renewable energy capacity is on track to be 2.7 times 2022 levels by 2030 – putting the COP28 goal of tripling it within reach – energy efficiency is not advancing quickly enough for the pace of improvement to double this decade, another COP28 objective.
In a candid and constructive roundtable discussion that followed, leaders shared their perspectives on key issues, including Executive Vice-President Ribera, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen, COP21 President Laurent Fabius, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev, Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition Selwin Hart, Malawi Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola, Netherlands Climate Envoy Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, United Arab Emirates Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs Sharif Al Olama and Children’s Investment Fund Foundation CEO Kate Hampton.
Taking stock of progress to date, participants affirmed the need to accelerate efforts to turn recent energy pledges into action – noting that achieving them could, with the right policies, unlock important economic and social opportunities, as well as security benefits. Beyond the goals of tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency progress by 2030, they also highlighted the importance of enhancing electricity grids and storage, ramping up energy investment in emerging and developing economies, and delivering energy transitions that are just and inclusive.
Participants also discussed how further High-Level Dialogues in the coming months could build momentum towards COP30 and the delivery of a strong and impactful set of energy outcomes.
