It was impossible not to see the irony last Thursday, when the Africa pavilion in COP30's blue zone erupted in flames, sending delegates fleeing for their lives. Mercifully, no-one was seriously hurt. But as global temperatures rise, the sight of infernos ripping through parched landscapes is becoming all too familiar. The number of people exposed to wildfires has increased by 40 in the last 20 years, with 85 of those affected in Africa .
Over the course of two weeks of negotiations in the Brazilian city of Belm, the gods appeared to send multiple signs imploring global powerbrokers to take action on climate change. As well as the fire in the Africa pavilion, a biblical downpour briefly flooded the Pacific islands pavilion. Yet there is only modest evidence that negotiators got the message.
A series of familiar debates ended with familiar outcomes. Once again, the talks became bogged down in language on phasing out fossil fuels. Once again, promises on climate finance for the Global South are unaccompanied by a concrete plan for delivery.