The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) took place in Belém, Brazil. Je-Liang Liou, the Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Research at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER), highlighted insights gained from 10 previous COP conferences. He emphasized that this year’s summit represents a crucial turning point in global climate governance, shifting from “conceptual advocacy” to “pragmatic action.” National commitments on carbon reduction and financial investment are becoming increasingly verifiable and operational.
Key focal points of this conference include the third version of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) and the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance (NCQG). Director Liou explained that COP’s governance approach does not rely on mandatory reviews to compel countries to reduce emissions. Instead, it creates peer pressure by disclosing progress and gaps, thereby motivating nations to continuously strengthen their commitments. This logic has significantly impacted global trade regulations, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), carbon emission standards for supply chains, and corporate sustainability reporting systems. It illustrates how climate norms are increasingly being woven into the economic and trade framework. For businesses, understanding the COP trends has become a fundamental skill for navigating international markets.
Countries are addressing critical climate finance issues by filling funding gaps through various means, such as donations, loans, and reallocating existing funds. They are also enhancing financial support to developing countries through carbon markets to facilitate a fair transition. Carbon markets are expected to become a critical financial instrument for driving international climate action.
Director Liou emphasized that although Taiwan is not a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, it must nevertheless closely monitor COP negotiation developments and proactively respond to changes in global standards. This is especially important in areas such as corporate sustainability disclosure, supply chain management, and low-carbon transition strategies, which are necessary to remain competitive in a rapidly changing international landscape.
Author: CIER Editorial Team
Date: November 17, 2025