COP30 Panel Discussion: The Future of Climate Governance
2025-10-22
On 22 October 2025, the Joachim Herz Doctoral School hosted a panel discussion on 'The Future of Climate Governance', focusing on the upcoming COP30 conference (from 10 to 21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil). COP stands for 'Conference of the Parties' to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The World Climate Conference, held annually since 1995, serves as a central forum for discussing progress in combating climate change and further developing global efforts to limit temperature rise and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This panel discussion featured:
Hamad Mota Kalaf, Second Secretary at the Brazilian Embassy in Germany;
Sarah Zitterbarth, an expert on international climate policy at Greenpeace Germany;
Dr Eduardo Gonçalves Gresse, deputy professor of sociology at the University of Hamburg.
The speakers offered insights from the perspectives of government, civil society, and academia regarding the upcoming negotiations on the future of global climate protection. Brazil, a country that has distinguished itself in recent years as a pioneer of stricter climate protection legislation, is hosting this year's conference. Despite countervailing trends (e.g. the current crisis of multilateralism), there is hope that this year's conference will comprise progressive initiatives and decisions.
Moderated by Maren Solmecke, a doctoral candidate at the Joachim Herz Doctoral School, the event provided a forum to exchange views on expectations for COP30. The speakers discussed (inter alia) the challenging situation at an international (legal) level, the difficulties currently facing global environmental and climate protection, and possible courses of action for the international community. Their informed contributions offered detailed and enlightening insights into the upcoming World Climate Conference.
We would like to thank all the speakers and audience members for this inspiring and informative event.
