part of Your guide to SEI at COP30
This page will be continuously updated. Please check back regularly to stay informed about SEI’s engagements.
COP30 is taking place on 10–21 November 2025 and will be held in the city of Belém, Brazil’s gateway to the Amazon. A Heads of State Summit will take place on 6–7 November ahead of the main conference.
On this page, you will find details about SEI’s expert delegation, hosted events, and key engagements on the bioeconomy and forests, food and water systems, adaptation, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the energy transition.
Explore below to see how SEI is advancing global climate goals through collaboration, engagement and action.
Time: 12:00–14:00
Location: Swedish Pavilion, Blue Zone | Hosted by the Government of Sweden
The ambition of the Inauguration of the Swedish Pavilion is to mirror the vision of our COP30 engagement and actively advocate for bold NDCs, long-term targets, predictable frameworks, global standards, procurement criteria, and other incentives and enabling conditions that drive investment in climate-smart solutions and accelerate deployment aligned with the Paris Agreement. The inauguration will offer an insightful preview of the key themes and discussions in the Swedish pavilion during the two weeks of COP30.
Supports Action Agenda theme: 6. Cross cutting: Unleashing enablers and accelerators including financing, technology and capacity building.
Time: 17:00–18:30
Location: Ukraine Pavilion
This one-hour moderated panel discussion and 30 minute Q&A will explore how Ukraine’s recovery and NDC 3.0 process can demonstrate a people-centred approach to resilience, decarbonization and social justice. Drawing from experiences in Brazil, the EU and Ukraine, speakers will discuss how just transition can evolve from a social safeguard to a strategic governance and financing framework that unites recovery, energy security, and climate ambition.
The session will also consider how international cooperation (e.g. Article 6.2 frameworks, multilateral funds and philanthropy) can support transformative recovery finance and new partnerships between regions and sectors.
Time: 13:00–14:30
Location: Ukraine Pavilion
As countries prepare their next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0), turning ambition into effective implementation will determine the success of the Paris Agreement. This regional hybrid side event, hosted in Ukraine’s Pavilion, will bring together Sweden, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to exchange concrete experiences in developing NDC 3.0 under complex geopolitical and economic conditions.
Time: 13:00–16:00
Location: Swedish Pavilion, Blue Zone | Hosted by the Government of Sweden
The summit brings together governments, cities, and industries to accelerate circular, fossil-free transitions by scaling industrial decarbonization and strengthening infrastructure resilience through Swedish solutions and governance models aligned with NDCs and NAPs. The objective is to show how business models built around innovation, solid policy frameworks, and good governance can foster collaboration between regions to align policy.
Time: 10:30–11:30 (TBC)
Location: SDG Pavilion, Blue Zone | Hosted by UN Global Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions Network
Exploring how innovative climate tech solutions can enhance resilience for the energy-water nexus. The event will examine pathways to strengthen sustainable infrastructure and climate adaptation, contributing to long-term water and energy security.
Supports Action Agenda theme: 4. Building resilience for cities, infrastructure and water.
Time: 17:15–18:45 (UTC-3)
Location: IPCC/WMO Pavilion
This session will examine the role of adaptation metrics in advancing global climate goals and the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), as well as the current status of discussions on this topic. It will explore opportunities and challenges for adaptation metrics, including cross-scale (local–national–global) and cross-sector (water, agriculture, health, infrastructure) dimensions; emerging technologies and approaches; capacity gaps; institutional needs; and data challenges for effective implementation.
The session will also map and analyse good practices and country experiences, identifying pathways towards a global architecture for adaptation metrics. This includes strategies to strengthen partnerships among governments, international organizations, academia, civil society, and the private sector to co-develop and implement adaptation measurement systems.
Time: 17:00–18:00
Location: Resilience Hub – Race to Resilience Workshop
For the first time, the Race to Resilience progress report presents cumulative results on implementation, showing resilience in practice beyond pledges and plans. The report highlights farmers accessing climate loans, communities receiving early warnings, homes strengthened against storms, and reefs restored to protect coastlines. Five years into the Decade of Delivery, these achievements come as climate impacts intensify, threatening livelihoods, ecosystems, and development. Aligned with the COP30 Action Agenda and the Global Goal on Adaptation, the Race to Resilience campaign mobilizes non-State actors to deliver tangible outcomes. Halfway to 2030, nearly 500 million people are now living with greater resilience.
Time: 13:00–14:30
Location: Ukraine Pavilion
This session explores how AI can support climate-smart recovery, from tracking emissions and environmental losses to enhancing transparency in climate finance and optimizing infrastructure resilience. It will also highlight Ukraine’s growing ecosystem of AI-driven initiatives – such as DREAM, EcoZagroza and Diia – as models for integrating digital technologies into national climate policy and global cooperation under the Paris Agreement.
Time: 10:00–11:00
Location: Forest Pavilion, Blue Zone
SEI’s Rafaela Flach and Selorm Kugbega led the FAO report “Climate and ecosystem service benefits of forests and trees for agriculture” exploring how harnessing the full potential of forests and trees for agriculture is vital given the increasing need to adapt to climate change requiring integrated landscape approaches that work for both farmers and ecosystems.
Developed in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and Conservation International (CI), brings together over 40 authors from 25 institutions to provide new quantitative evidence on how forests’ cooling and water-regulating functions boost crop productivity and safeguard farm workers’ health across diverse regions.
The launch event was moderated by Toby Gardner, SEI Senior Research Fellow and Director of Trase.
Time: 17:15–18:15
Location: Planetary Sciences Pavilion, Blue Zone | Future Earth
Under the mandate of the COP30 Presidency, the Planetary Sciences Pavilion will be an emblematic space designed to place science at the center of the global climate agenda. Its program will highlight both the concept of planetary boundaries and the diversity and interconnectedness of Earth systems at multiple scales, fostering dialogue among scientists, policymakers, negotiators, Indigenous leaders, and the general public. The Pavilion is coordinated by planetary scientists Dr. Carlos A. Nobre and Dr. Johan Rockström.
Time: 11:30–12:30
Location: Panda Hub – WWF Pavilion, Blue Zone
This session offers a vital conversation on commodity-driven deforestation in the Amazon. Drawing on insights from the WWF Amazon Footprint report, it will explore solutions to prevent the Amazon from reaching an ecological tipping point, including DCF supply chains, strengthened policies, and support for Indigenous peoples and local communities who safeguard the forest.
Time: 09:30–10:30
Location: Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Av. Magalhães Barata, 376, São Braz, Belém, Pará.
The Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi is a natural history museum and research center located in Belém, about 2–3 km from the official COP30 venue.
This event will focus on how governance strategies along value chains, when designed with a climate and water lens, can build more just and resilient territories. Rather than focusing solely on territorial or sectoral interventions, we propose a multi-actor approach along the value chain—bringing together communities, companies, investors, and public institutions through shared commitments.
With Amazon Investors Coalition, Imaflora, SEI Latin America
Time: 15:30
Location: Embrapa Agrizone, Travessa Doutor Enéas Pinheiro, s/n, Marco, Belém.
AgriZone is located within Embrapa Amazônia Oriental [Embrapa Eastern Amazon], about 2 km from the official COP30 venue.
Deforestation is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions in Brazil and other tropical countries, and many international actors have adopted policies to eliminate it. However, this is often done without consultation with stakeholders in the territories in question. In this Conversation Circle (Roda de Conversa), we will present the preliminary results of the BEDROCK Project, which explored the perspectives of various stakeholders in Brazil and Cameroon on how these policies can better reflect local visions of sustainability and help territorial actors advance transformative agendas—sometimes stalled at the national level.
Time: 12:00–13:00
Location: Food & Agriculture Pavilion, Blue Zone | Hosted by UNEP
UNEP launch of the Climate Technology Progress Report 2025. This session will explore how climate technologies can unlock bioeconomy pathways for systemic change, advancing forest stewardship and sustainable value chains.
Supports Action Agenda theme: 3. Stewarding forests, oceans and biodiversity.
Time: 13:00–16:00
Location: Swedish Pavilion, Blue Zone | Hosted by the Government of Sweden
The summit brings together governments, cities, and industries to accelerate circular, fossil-free transitions by scaling industrial decarbonization and strengthening infrastructure resilience through Swedish solutions and governance models aligned with NDCs and NAPs. The objective is to show how business models built around innovation, solid policy frameworks, and good governance can foster collaboration between regions to align policy.
Supports Action Agenda theme: 1. Transitioning energy, industry and transport.
Time: 17:30–19:00
Location: China Pavilion
This session explores international cooperation on addressing climate change and promoting green and low-carbon transitions. Toby Gardner will be presenting.
Time: 10:30–11:30
Location: SDG Pavilion, Blue Zone | Hosted by UN Global Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions Network
The purpose of this event is to bring together key stakeholders from government, industry, civil society, and international organizations to discuss how to advance climate tech solutions for the energy-water nexus. By focusing on integrated technologies, resilient infrastructure, and adaptive policy frameworks, the event seeks to highlight innovative approaches and best practices that support climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as sustainable resource management.
Supports Action Agenda theme: 1. Transitioning energy, industry and transport. 4. Building resilience for cities, infrastructure and water. 6. Cross cutting: Unleashing enablers and accelerators including financing, technology and capacity building.
Time: 15:00-16:00
Location: Water Pavilion
At COP30, experts explore the most effective adaptation to climate change measures. Join this conversation to analyze how natural resource management plans, such as land and water, can be a platform for implementing these adaptation options, including financing strategies that have been successful in supporting the development of adaptation strategies.
Supports Action Agenda theme: 4. Building resilience for cities, infrastructure and water. 6. Cross cutting: Unleashing enablers and accelerators including financing, technology and capacity building.
Time: 16:00–19:00
Location: Swedish Pavilion, Blue Zone | Hosted by the Government of Sweden
The summit will convene stakeholders from business, academia, and the public sector to demonstrate that scalable climate solutions across the agrifood value chain are ready for deployment worldwide. The program will feature best practices and real-world cases presented by executives from leading Swedish companies and enablers. These presentations will be followed by interactive roundtable discussions.
Supports Action Agenda theme: 3. Transforming Agriculture and food systems.
Time: 16:00–17:30
Location: Global South House | Hosted by the Samdhana Institute
The Global South House will be located in the heart of Belém, about 9 km from the official COP30 venue: Av. Serzedelo Corrêa, 15- Nazaré (Edifício Manoel Pinto da Silva).
Strengthened food systems is one of the keys in reshaping the global climate and food crises. This session aims to identify pathways and recommendations on how to support and fund communities to shift towards food production that enhances their climate resilience. It aims to center the leadership of Global South farmer, fisher, Indigenous and peasant communities in policy spaces by bringing their evidence and stories, and exploring ways to invest climate financing in building resilient food system in the Global South.
Supports Action Agenda theme: 6. Cross cutting: Unleashing enablers and accelerators including financing, technology and capacity building.
Time: 15:00–16:00
Organisers: LeadIT, TESS
Location: Open Society Foundations Pavilion, Blue Zone
Context and purpose
Heavy industry (e.g., steel, cement) accounts for about a quarter of global CO₂ emissions and requires diffusion and massive scaling of clean technologies—including hydrogen-based steelmaking and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS)—to reach net zero. Yet in many emerging and developing economies, deployment is held back by high costs of technology and capital, policy and financing challenges, and the need to adapt technologies to local production processes while building capacity and skills for endogenous technology development. This session will examine how trade policy and international cooperation can deliver technology where it is needed.
Time: 11:00–12:00
Organisers: LeadIT, Climate Club, Industry Transition Accelerator (ITA) and the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization (AFID).
Location: Axis 1 Thematic Space, Blue Zone
Context and purpose
The clean industry transition is no longer a distant ambition—it is unfolding now, reshaping economies and redefining industrial leadership. This high-level COP30 side event will spotlight the accelerating momentum of clean industrial development across energy-intensive sectors, showcasing real-world examples of policy innovation, investment breakthroughs, and collaborative action.
Industry accounts for nearly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and is central to the global energy transition. Decarbonising this sector is essential to achieving climate goals. This session will highlight how coordinated policy frameworks, technology co-development, and partnerships are enabling investments in industrial transformation. It will also reflect the urgency to scale up investment and accelerate Final Investment Decisions (FIDs), especially in hard-to-abate sectors like steel, cement, and chemicals.
Participants will hear from leaders across government, industry, and finance, and explore how clean industrial development is becoming a competitive advantage—especially for countries and companies that move early. The session will celebrate real progress and bright spots.
This session will not only showcase results—it will inspire the next wave of action.
Time: 12:00–13:00
Organisers: Ministry of Planning & Development, Ethiopia, LeadIT, and Ministry of Industry, Ethiopia.
Location: Ethiopian Pavilion, Blue Zone
Context and purpose
Ethiopia’s industrial transition stands at a pivotal moment amid global and regional climate dialogues leading up to COP30. The conversation is increasingly shifting from viewing Africa solely as a victim of climate change to recognising it as a driving force for climate solutions.
Nationally, while Ethiopia’s industrial sector currently contributes a relatively small share of greenhouse gas emissions, about 5 MtCO₂ eq. in 2020 (LT-LEDS, 2021), those emissions are projected to grow due to rapid industrialization. The cement, mining, and textile industries are identified as major sources. In line with Ethiopia’s NDCs and LT-LEDS, the country aims to integrate renewable energy into industrial processes, expand the use of clean technologies, and enhance energy efficiency to foster a sustainable, low-carbon economy.
This panel discussion, aligned with COP30’s thematic focus on energy, industry, and transport, aims to highlight Ethiopia’s leadership in climate-smart industrialisation and to inspire new global partnerships for a green industrial future. It will explore both the challenges and opportunities in Ethiopia’s industrial transition.
Time: 15:00–16:00
Location: UNFCCC special event room Madeira, Blue Zone
Context and purpose
As the world approaches the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement and 2030 milestones draw closer, the pace and scale of industrial transition will determine whether global climate and economic goals remain within reach. The Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT), co-chaired by India and Sweden, brings together governments, industries and international partners committed to accelerating the shift to low-carbon, competitive industrial value chains.
At COP30 in Belém, the LeadIT co-chairs will convene a high-level roundtable of governments, industry and international initiatives to take stock of progress and chart the next phase of global industrial cooperation. This roundtable is timely as three LeadIT members have announced their interests to host consecutive COP presidencies, which will each play a pivotal role setting the direction of industry transition on the international agenda for the remainder of the decade.
Objectives
Outputs
A summary note will be circulated to COP30 Activation Group 2 “Accelerating zero and low emission technologies in hard-to-abate sectors (Axis 1 of the Action Agenda)
Visit the page below for expert analysis and key resources on COP30’s main themes and goals. Stay informed on the latest developments throughout the conference.
Collection / Explore expert insights, research and live updates on SEI’s events and engagement throughout the conference.
Tool / Trase enables governments, companies and others to address the environmental impacts of supply chains.
Project / The Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) aims to enable the transition of heavy industry towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
