Climate Cooperation in Transition

The global effort to tackle the climate crisis stands an inflection point. The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) has just concluded in Brazil, marking the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. While the most devastating of scenarios seems to have been avoided, global warming remains a serious threat. Atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are nearing 450 ppm with temperature increases broaching the 1.5°C mark.

Along with this science, countries reflecting on the state of climate action will also take stock of a changed socio-economic and political landscape. Armed conflict and regional tensions are redirecting political and financial capital further away from climate change towards national security. Multilateralism is contracting. The United States has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and dismantled its development assistance. The resulting leadership, finance, and ambition vacuum has invigorated discourse on the future of global climate action. The need for surefooted diplomacy and careful path planning has never been more acute.

In response, on October 16 and 17, 2025, Perry World House and the United Nations Centre for Policy Research convened a high-level workshop titled “Climate Cooperation in Transition.” Building on a prior discussion held on the margins of the UN General Assembly that examined the legacy and geopolitics of the Paris Agreement, it explored the drivers and barriers to global collaboration and policymaking on climate action. It focused on three key areas: (1) stocktake and strategy, (2) energy transition and security, and (3) the role of the real economy and finance. This report distills insights from those discussions, highlighting ideas and pathways to help decisionmakers navigate the transitions underway and strengthen efforts to confront the climate crisis.