Reflections on COP30: credible sustainability systems are driving climate action at scale
On the international stage, the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, achieved mixed results. The final agreement emphasised equity and a ‘just transition’ but failed to increase commitments to phasing out fossil fuels. Even with the backdrop of the Amazon rainforest, negotiators left without a plan to end deforestation. Nevertheless, I left COP30 feeling optimistic about climate mitigation and adaptation, not least due to the important roles of credible market-based sustainability approaches.
Away from the negotiating table, across the pavilions and side events, COP30 delivered moments of genuine optimism, cooperation and renewed energy. For ISEAL, attending our first climate COP was a milestone, and an opportunity to link global goals with the practical experience of credible sustainability systems in driving climate action on the ground.
Sustainability systems support climate action at scale
COP30 emphasised the importance of addressing climate and nature together. Sustainability systems provide tried-and-tested methodologies for protecting and sustainably managing forests, landscapes and seascapes in ways that support climate mitigation and adaptation.
Sustainability systems in the agriculture and forestry sectors are helping to tackle deforestation, and offer tools to monitor and verify efforts to reduce emissions and remove carbon from the atmosphere through nature-based solutions. They also work closely with farmers and other producers to build resilience and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Credible sustainability systems also have a key role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy. We heard a lot at COP30 about the bioeconomy, and how anything produced from petroleum can also be produced from forests. Today, over a third of the world’s productive forests are certified against sustainability standards; this experience in sustainable approaches that balance production, climate, nature and people’s needs will be critical as demand grows.
Similarly, we heard how materials for the clean energy transition will require a significant increase in mining, mineral production and related infrastructure. This will bring an increasing need for standards for responsible mining, bioenergy and green infrastructure. ISEAL’s Chain of Custody Models and Definitions and Sustainability Claims Good Practice Guide are already guiding work in these sectors.
Supporting national goals and company commitments
Countries need good data to set targets and report on their climate plans or nationally determined contributions (NDCs) – and this is something credible sustainability systems can help with, especially in regions or countries where statistical data may be in short supply. They offer clear indicators based on verified sustainability approaches, including on carbon sequestration. As countries seek robust ways to track progress toward mitigation goals, the value of credible, independently verified data is becoming increasingly clear.
Countries are also looking to integrate carbon emissions and deforestation into trade rules and agreements – a hot topic at COP30. Voluntary sustainability standards are increasingly being referenced in free-trade agreements, and numerous events at COP30 explored how green trade can deliver climate-smart benefits that extend beyond individual countries.
Companies, too, need robust data to report on their climate and nature-related commitments, as well as practical tools to help achieve them. Voluntary sustainability systems can support corporate sustainability disclosure and reporting. They also offer strong multistakeholder relationships, management systems, audits and data flows that can support companies to manage climate risks and impacts, and make credible claims about their climate action.
A global ‘mutirão’
A recurring theme in Belém was the concept of the mutirão – a Brazilian tradition of collective, community-driven effort. It captured the spirit of what is needed this decade: coordinated, inclusive, global collaboration.
From Brazil to Indonesia to the United States, we heard examples of how collaborations are driving sustainability practices across entire provinces and landscapes, as well as helping to tackle systemic issues like deforestation. By going beyond single farms to cover whole regions, and linking with policy, these are scalable solutions in the transition to a sustainable economy.
Sustainability systems can play an important role by supporting multistakeholder engagement, credible approaches and clear claims. This was brought home to me during a panel discussion on jurisdictional approaches to water management. Credible sustainability standards facilitate engagement between companies and communities and guide smart water management practices to meet the needs of both people and production.
By empowering vulnerable communities and producers, including by investing in climate resilience through sustainable value chains, credible sustainability systems also support more equitable climate action – another key theme in Belém.
Looking forward
While COP30 did not deliver the level of ambition many had hoped for, the conversations in Belém reinforced that credible sustainability systems are indispensable partners in implementing climate solutions at speed and scale, particularly when policy lags. They bridge global ambition with local action, connect producers with markets, and provide the trusted data and assurance needed for both voluntary commitments and regulatory requirements.
As we look beyond COP30, ISEAL will continue strengthening these networks and working with governments, businesses and communities to advance credible, equitable, and scalable climate action. The momentum is real and with collective effort, the mutirão spirit can drive the impact the world urgently needs.