climate change

COP30 in Belém: climate promises vs fossil fuel politics

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With 1,600 lobbyists in attendance—outnumbering most nations—the summit’s goals of finance and justice face a critical test


As the second week of the COP30 climate summit begins in Belém, Brazil—in the heart of the Amazon—the stakes are becoming sharper and harder to ignore. The world faces a profound contradiction: the need for urgent, radical action to address record-breaking temperatures collides with the overwhelming presence of the very industry driving the crisis. The initial discussions have set the stage, but the most difficult negotiations now begin.

Against this backdrop of unprecedented lobbyist attendance, delegates are confronting an immense and politically charged agenda. In short, six critical issues will determine if COP30 delivers real change or just repeats empty promises.

The six defining issues of COP30


1. Preventing runaway warming: the 1.5°C lifeline.
The data are stark: current national pledges put the world on track for a catastrophic 2.3–2.5°C of warming. In fact, overshooting the 1.5°C target is now almost certain. The task in Belém is to pressure major emitters into steeper, faster emissions cuts, aiming to make the overshoot as small and as brief as possible. Yet this effort is inevitably complicated by the presence of 1,600 fossil fuel lobbyists. Indeed, their influence risks diluting ambition behind closed doors.

2. Funding climate adaptation: paying for survival.
Developing nations are demanding solutions to the enormous financial gap facing communities already suffering climate-fuelled storms, droughts, and rising seas. COP30 is the deadline for agreeing on a new global finance goal for adaptation. But success means ensuring vulnerable countries can build real resilience. An urgent necessity that sits uneasily alongside the fact that fossil fuel lobbyists outnumber every country delegation except Brazil’s.

3. Unlocking trillion-dollar finance: from pledges to projects.
The central challenge remains converting grand climate finance commitments into actual, accessible flows. A proposed roadmap aims to mobilise $1.3 trillion each year by 2035 for developing countries. Negotiators will now focus on reforming global financial systems, so public funds can leverage private investment. But these over “real money” happen alongside the significant influence of petrostates. Azerbaijan, the UAE, and Egypt—all fossil fuel major producers—hosted the last three summits.

For a deeper look at this dynamic, read our previous analysis: Is it time to give up on the COPs?

4. Scaling creative solutions: beacons of hope.
Despite the political tension, COP30 is also a launchpad for concrete initiatives. Highlights include the Beat the Heat programme for sustainable cooling, the Food Waste Breakthrough to cut methane emissions, and the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, designed to pay countries for preserving forests. These examples offer a glimpse of what coordinated climate action could achieve, if matched by political will.

5. Ensuring a just transition: the Belém action mechanism.
The shift to a green economy must be equitable. In fact major expected outcome is the Belém Action Mechanism for Just Transition, a framework intended to support workers and communities dependent on high-carbon industries through job creation, training, and structural support. This commitment to justice is essential in a process where powerful economic actors dominate.

6. Reigniting the Paris spirit in a “decade of delivery.”
Nearly a decade after the hope of the 2015 Paris Agreement, COP30 aims to recapture that momentum and mark the start of a true “decade of delivery”. The goal is to finally translate lofty pledges into action. Yet that ambition is being tested by the sheer scale of industry involvement, with recent investigations intensifying long-standing concerns about the summit’s integrity.

Final thoughts: a summit at a crossroads


In conclusion, the message from Belém is clear, yet profoundly conflicted. As the second week opens, the technical challenges of emissions cuts, finance, and adaptation are firmly on the table.

However, the real battle for this summit’s outcome will be fought not over the official agenda, but over the unspoken power dynamics in the negotiating rooms. With one in every 25 participants representing the fossil fuel industry—and those delegates outnumbering the combined representation of the ten most climate-vulnerable nations—the question is no longer merely what will be decided, but who is truly deciding it.

Ultimately, the world is watching to see whether COP30 can overcome this contradiction and accelerate genuine action, or whether the so-called “decade of delivery” will once again be co-opted by the forces of delay.

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Greenwashing: The system is designed to fail. It’s time to see clearly

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Our guide to spotting greenwashing — born from witnessing the system’s hijacking — now available in Italian


How can people tell what is truly sustainable — or confidently say: this is greenwashing?

Let’s take one example we’ve just shared: African organisations are accusing a major UN circularity project of unreliable data and a tainted process.
This isn’t just a failure; it’s a hijacking.

But how can we distinguish between genuine initiatives and those that are not?
The core conflict is no longer just about data — it’s about who gets to define circularity and sustainability.

Buy This is Greenwashing and Questo è Greenwashing - photo of both book covers.
Questo è greenwashing – This is Greenwashing

Greenwashing: A system designed to fail


When fast-fashion entities help set the rules for a UN process meant to regulate them, the outcome is predictable: a system designed to fail.
In other words, a system that protects overproduction and waste under the guise of sustainability.

This is greenwashing at the highest level — the green fog at its thickest — designed to confuse us into compliance while the real work of change is undermined.

And this is precisely why we wrote This is Greenwashing.

This eBook goes beyond spotting a fake “eco-friendly” label.
It’s a guide to understanding the systemic lies that corrupts projects like the UNEP’s. It equips you with tools to see through the green fog created by the very systems meant to protect us.

We wrote it because when regulation fails — or is hijacked — awareness becomes our strongest line of defence.

In a world where the credibility of global environmental governance hangs in the balance, we must equip ourselves with the power to see clearly, demand better, and stop being manipulated.

This is Greenwashing – Now available in Italian


🌍 Now available in Italian: Your guide to seeing through the green fog
We are proud to launch This Is Greenwashing in Italian.

This guide will help you:
✔ Decode the jargon and spot lies at a glance
✔ Understand the tactics used not just by brands, but by entire systems to appear “green”
✔ Arm yourself with practical knowledge to make informed choices

In a system designed to fail, knowledge isn’t just power — it’s resistance.

📘 🇮🇹 Get your Italian eBook here: books2read.com/u/mYJ8lP
📘 🇬🇧 Get your English eBook here: https://books2read.com/u/bpgxOX

📣 Please help spread the word by leaving a review — it makes all the difference.

“This is greenwashing’s greatest crime: distracting us with false solutions as the planet burns.”

Spot the lies. Demand better.

P.S. Share this with anyone who questions the ‘sustainable’ façade. It’s time we clear the green fog, together.

 🌿 Now available as an eBook — the print version will follow.

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Plastic pollution: Global plastic treaty talks collapse after 11 Days

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Nations fail to agree on production caps and chemical controls, delaying a critical solution to the plastic crisis


The world’s first legally binding treaty on plastic pollution has been delayed after 11 days of intense negotiations concluded without an agreement. In fact, delegates from 184 countries, meeting in Geneva until August 15, 2025, failed to bridge their differences on core measures, including a global cap on new plastic production and binding rules for toxic chemicals. While talks are scheduled to resume, the plastic crisis is left without a coordinated global solution for the foreseeable future.

Plastic pollution: Key points of disagreement 


The most divisive issues that led to the deadlock were:

  • Plastic production caps: A major rift emerged between nations pushing for legally binding limits on plastic production and those opposing it.
  • Toxic chemicals: Talks stalled over whether to impose global, legally binding controls on the hazardous chemicals used in plastic manufacturing.
  • Financing: There was no consensus on how to fund the implementation of the treaty, particularly to support developing nations.
Plastic pollution in a natural costal area. Photo credit: Antoine GIRET
Photo credit: Antoine GIRET

Frustration and blame


The failure to reach an agreement sparked strong reactions from delegates. French ecology minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher told the closing session she was “enraged because despite genuine efforts by many, and real progress in discussions, no tangible results have been obtained.”

She underscored the urgency, stating, “Every year, millions of tonnes of plastic end up in nature, breaking down into invisible particles that enter our food, water and air. The scientific and medical evidence is clear: plastic kills. It poisons our oceans, soils and ultimately our bodies.”

In an apparent reference to oil-producing nations, Colombia’s delegate, Haendel Rodriguez, stated that a deal had been “blocked by a small number of states who simply did not want an agreement.” This aligns with reports that countries like Saudi Arabia insisted the talks focus solely on recycling and waste management, rather than addressing the root causes: cutting plastic production and regulating its toxic ingredients.

This opposition was anticipated. Diplomats and climate advocates had previously warned that efforts led by the European Union and small island states to cap virgin plastic production—a product of the fossil fuel industry—faced strong resistance from petrochemical-producing nations and the U.S.
(Source: Reuters & The Guardian)

Plastic pollution: What’s next?


The talks were adjourned, not ended, with the expectation of resuming at a future date. However, the collapse raises a critical question: is a meaningful agreement even possible amid global instability and competing economic interests?

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) will continue to explore avenues for future discussions, potentially including a report on the talks at the UN Environment Assembly in Kenya this December. For now, delegates are left with widespread disappointment that a breakthrough on this significant environmental issue remains out of reach.

Why this matters


These negotiations were hailed as among the most consequential environmental talks since the Paris Climate Accord. Experts have continuously emphasised the urgent need for a treaty, highlighting the profound dangers of plastic pollution to human and planetary health. (Read more here).

Plastic pollution & the inevitable link to fashion


Do we need to know if there’s any correlation with fashion? Of course, there is.

Polyester is plastic. Derived from petroleum, this cheap synthetic fiber is the most profusely used material by fast fashion brands. The same toxic chemicals and production processes debated in Geneva are inherent to the creation of countless garments that flood the market each season. The failure of the treaty directly impacts the fashion industry‘s accountability for its environmental footprint.

A call to action: What can we do now?


Without a binding multilateral agreement, the responsibility shifts. While we continue to push our leaders for a global solution, we cannot wait. And so, we must:

  • Support brands committed to change: Choose companies that are transparent about their supply chains and use recycled, circular, and natural materials.
  • Demand legislation: Advocate for strong national and local laws that ban single-use plastics and hold producers responsible for their waste.
  • Change our habits: Embrace the principles of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” in our wardrobes. Buy less, choose well, and extend the life of our clothing.

The collapse of the talks is a setback, but it cannot be an excuse for inaction. The power to demand change has never been more critical.

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The marketing dilemma: The wants vs needs paradox

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Give people what they want — or understand what the planet needs? And then, make a change?


The marketing dilemma—wants vs needs—is a true paradox.
Marketing experts preach one golden rule: Give people what they want. Specifically, empathise so deeply with your audience that you anticipate their desires.

Fast fashion obeys, flooding the market with cheap, disposable clothes. Luxury brands, ironically, follow the same model. Other industries—from cosmetics to tech—are no different.

But this “wants-first” mantra has a dark side: overproduction, waste, and greenwashed illusions.

If marketing is about empathy, why does it fuel a system that harms people and the planet? Or is empathy just the new frontier of brainwashing?

Above all, in our daily business, should we cater to wants—or to what makes sense in the face of climate collapse and societal breakdown?

The marketing trap: Why “give them what they want” fails fashion


The industry runs on a simple formula: identify desire, amplify it, profit. But what if the desire itself is engineered?

  • The illusion of choice:
    Consumers feel empowered because they can afford endless products. Shop more = happiness. But are they truly choosing, or just playing a rigged game? The truth? A system built on exploitation and injustice offers sweeteners—cheap prices, fleeting trends—to mask its harm. 
  • Advertising’s fantasy:
    Fast fashion sells “luxury for all,” while luxury brands mimic fast fashion’s speed. Both rely on the same lie: You need this—and you deserve it. They sell fantasies of luxury, exclusivity, and sustainability while churning out exploitative, planet-killing products.
  • The dopamine loop:
    Social media, flash sales, and FOMO turn shopping into an addiction. Dopamine-driven consumption keeps people buying. The algorithm wins; the planet loses.

The marketing dilemma: Profit vs. reinvention


Here’s the crux: profit or reinvention?
Brands that pivot to sustainability cater to a niche. But these brands face a brutal truth: Ethics don’t scale like exploitation.

In fact, the penalty of being niche is clear. Sustainability requires degrowth. It means smaller margins, slower growth, and putting off mass-market shoppers. Even “conscious” consumers often revert to cheap fixes.

So, what to do? Raise prices? Reduce stock? Risk becoming “irrelevant” in a world trained to expect endless newness.

In our experience, shifting from a broad selection of international brands to a narrowed-down niche curation of meaningful garments has hurt profits. Few understand the value of “no fluff” curation. Most still chase low prices—regardless of human or planetary cost.

But who’s to blame? Brands for manipulating desire? Consumers for complying? Or marketing for refusing to challenge the status quo? Or pretending so?

Can marketing break the cycle?


The same tools that created this mess could fix it—if used differently.

• First, reframing the “Want”: What if marketing created demand for durability, not disposability? 
• Second, honesty as a strategy: Limited productions, slowness, and imperfection are virtues.

But will this work for the mainstream? It’s worth a try. We’re trying. Yet we fear the system itself—exploitative and rigid—will suffocate those who don’t conform.

Final thoughts: The mirror crack’d


In the face of climate change, the marketing dilemma—wants vs needs—reveals itself as a true paradox. The paradox of preserving an economic system that comes at the planet’s expense. A system that persists despite generating appalling inequalities and societal breakdown. 

Yet we’ve come to understand that what people want—cheap prices, overconsumption—directly contradicts what the planet needs.

So we face a choice: Do we continue giving people what they want, further overloading the planet? Or do we persist in narrowing our garment curation, knowing we’ll only reach a handful of free thinkers?

Fashion is a mirror of society. Right now, it reflects our addiction to consumption, our short attention spans, and our disconnect from the consequences of our choices. But mirrors can crack—and so can this system. 

The rise of second-hand, repair culture, slow fashion, and limited curations proves some are awakening.

We must ask: Who’s willing to look beyond their own reflection?

The essential question isn’t “What do you want?”—it’s “What are you willing to stop wanting?”

Three big questions: What do YOU want?

  • Would you pay more for ethical fashion? Do you care about sustainability, or is price still king? Be honest.
  • If you say you care about the planet but still buy 10 cheap tops a month—what’s stopping you from changing?
  • Should marketing change wants, not just cater to them?

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Summer Holiday Style: Why you don’t need a new wardrobe

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The case for timeless fashion—no sustainability tag needed


When it comes to summer holiday style, do we really need a new wardrobe?

Every summer, the same cycle repeats: people buy cheap, disposable clothing—flimsy dresses, bargain swimsuits, fast-fashion cover-ups—worn for a single holiday before being discarded. The reasoning? “It was so cheap, it doesn’t matter if I toss it.”

But it does matter.

This mindset fuels overconsumption, waste, and environmental harm—yet many ignore it. At its core, summer holiday style shouldn’t be about buying more just for the occasion. It should be about buying meaningful pieces you can wear almost everywhere, just styled differently.

Summer holiday style: A woman with a blond bob haircut and sunglasses poses confidently in a beige clay-dyed short pants set by GoodneighborsShirts, layered with a celadon right-slit tee by Ujoh, paired with matching celadon loafers. The background features a square with a gray floor, yellow-beige houses, and trees.

The problem with ‘holiday-only’ fashion

Mainstream fashion encourages buying low-quality, trend-driven pieces that lose their appeal (or fall apart) after one trip. Kaftans, flimsy cover-ups, and synthetic beachwear dominate summer sales. But these items rarely last beyond a season. Worse, they contribute to the growing mountain of textile waste choking our planet.

What if summer style wasn’t about buying more, but smarter? Taking the right clothes only?

The alternative: Meaningful garments that last


True style isn’t about quantity. It’s about curation, quality, and longevity. A well-made cotton shirt, a tailored swimsuit, a lightweight silk dress in a timeless cut—these pieces don’t just work for one holiday. They transition seamlessly from city life to beach escapes, year after year.

The secret? Thoughtful design and versatility.

  • Choose good design, pieces made to last: quality speaks before you do. Most importantly, Good design encompasses sustainability without even mentioning it.
  • Natural fabrics don’t just breathe better; they evolve beautifully, unlike disposable synthetics.
  • Change the styling, swap accessories—suddenly it’s a whole new look.

This approach isn’t just sustainable—it’s effortlessly elegant.

Fashion’s hidden cost: A planet on fire


The question “What do you wear on holiday?” seems harmless. But it reveals deeper truths about our values—and our impact. The fashion industry is a major polluter, and disposable summer trends only make it worse.

We can’t afford to ignore it anymore.

Overconsumption and “garbage fashion” belong to the past. With climate crises escalating, we must shift to fewer, better pieces—garments that endure beyond a single season.

The bottom line: Buy less, buy better, wear more


You don’t need a new wardrobe for summer. You need a mindset shift.
Invest in quality over quantity.
Reject fast fashion’s throwaway culture.
Embrace versatile, timeless pieces that work everywhere.

The future of style isn’t in endless shopping sprees—it’s in meaningful choices.

So, what do we wear on holiday? The same timeless pieces we wear in town—just styled differently. Because true style isn’t disposable—it’s forever.

What about you? Do you buy clothes just for summer holidays, or do you choose pieces that last?

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