As world leaders and activists gather in Belém, Brazil, for COP30 from 10–21 November, Hari Krishna Nibanupudi reflects on the lessons from last year’s COP29 in Baku and looks ahead to what’s at stake this year — from advancing climate justice for older people to strengthening their recognition in global climate action.
Chasing climate promises from Baku to Belém: and yes, older people are still waiting
My memories of COP29 in Baku are still vivid, and I confess I was not emotionally ready for another COP quite so soon. Baku brought moments of inspiration — alliances forged, new insights gained, and unexpected speaking opportunities where I could raise the concerns of older people facing climate injustice. Yet, it also brought deep frustration. We witnessed an event funded by millions of dollars in public finance struggle to deliver justice for the real lives of those already suffering the most — indigenous elders, older people in mountains and deserts, small-scale fishing communities, small island nations, and remote forest regions. And political progress that felt painfully insufficient.
So, will COP30 in Belém be any different? Perhaps. But realism tempers optimism.
Weighed down by memories of logistical challenges in Baku and early reports of even more testing conditions in Belém, preparation for COP30 began months ago. Brazil has worked hard to expand its infrastructure — over 36,000 beds are now available, with a target of 50,000 — yet accommodation prices have soared, often requiring non-refundable 10-night bookings as much as 45 miles away from the venue. And one must ask: is it worth the ordeal to be one face in a vast crowd?
For me, the answer is yes. The world is warming, the world is ageing, and only a few see how profoundly these crises intersect. The warming planet hits the ageing planet hardest; drought, heat, displacement and disease disproportionately endanger older people. At the same time, older communities hold the experience, knowledge and adaptive traditions our climate future needs. And despite its flaws, the COP process remains one of the few global platforms where we can bring the realities of older people to the negotiating table.
HelpAge’s active engagement began in earnest with COP28, when we launched our Grey and Green climate manifesto. Since then, our presence has grown: speaking slots, collaboration across justice movements, and direct engagement with major advocacy blocs. At COP30, we are taking another step forward.
HelpAge at COP30: making older people visible
This year, in collaboration with disability networks, we are co-leading:
- Special Event – Solidarity and Collaboration that Empowers Gender, Age and Disability-Inclusive Climate Action (13 Nov, 18:30–20:00, Special Events Room 4)
- Exhibit and Visual Storytelling Booth – Inclusive Climate Action for Older People, Women with Disabilities and Other Excluded Groups (10–15 Nov, Booth 39)
And, the Climate Elders photo exhibition – organised by our partners running throughout COP at a prominent Belém cultural venue.
Beyond public-facing events, we continue to engage with several global alliances and key institutions, including the Adaptation Fund Board, the IPCC, and UNFCCC constituencies, to shape policy and position papers. Our strategy is long-term: expanding space for ageing in climate governance, until older people’s voices are no longer optional — but expected.
A year of breakthroughs for older people’s rights
The past year delivered landmark developments.
In April 2025, the UN Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 58/13 establishing an open-ended intergovernmental working group to draft a legally binding instrument on the rights of older persons. This landmark step could open new global policy pathways, including those related to climate justice and ageing.
In July 2025, the International Court of Justice confirmed that states have legally binding obligations to protect the climate system, prevent significant harm, and cooperate globally. It affirmed that failure to act could trigger state responsibility, including the obligation to provide reparations.
Building on this momentum, civil society has petitioned the to clarify climate obligations — explicitly including older people.
And in Europe, the KlimaSeniorinnen case was a watershed. In April 2024, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Switzerland violated older women’s rights by failing to act on climate risks. In March 2025, the Council of Europe found Switzerland still non-compliant, urging stronger action to meet the 1.5°C goal. This landmark case signals global legal consequences for climate inaction impacting older people.
These wins have fuelled my optimism. As HelpAge leadership reminded us, “we speak for millions of older people whose voices would otherwise go unheard”. We are determined to secure formal recognition of older people as a UNFCCC constituency and, ultimately, a dedicated climate finance mechanism for enhancing ageing resilience.
What awaits in Belém? Key issues at COP30
Science leaves no room for ambiguity. The world has already warmed 1.2°C. We are on course for 2.5°C or more this century — possibly 2.9°C without urgent action. Belém must turn aspiration into delivery across six fronts, underlining the urgent need for action.
- Translating “transition away from fossil fuels” into measurable delivery
- Agreeing on a credible climate finance roadmap
- Moving the Global Goal on Adaptation from concept to concrete implementation
- Advancing Just Transition and social protection
- Strengthening protection for forests and food systems
- Uplifting Indigenous leadership and gender-inclusive climate action
Across all engagements, our messages remain clear:
- Recognise older people as climate actors
By 2050, 2.1 billion older people will shape the world’s societies. UNFCCC must establish an Older People’s Constituency, equal to youth, women and disability groups.
- Embed ageing into adaptation.
Climate adaptation cannot succeed without integrating older people across National Adaptation Plans, global adaptation frameworks, indicators and monitoring.
- Finance older people’s climate action
Visibility requires investment. We call for backing system-wide COP Reform. We support the reform agenda proposed by the Elders Council, led by Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon, and Christiana Figueres, to transform COPs from negotiation stages into implementation forums, while centring on the rights-based inclusion of all marginalised groups.
Belém is a crucial test of whether COP drives climate justice or drifts into ceremony. Despite slow progress, older people are winning legal victories, shaping debates, and leading resilience. As climate and ageing crises converge, older people must be recognised as leaders, not victims — a message we carry from Baku to Belém and beyond.