Time to close gap between climate promises and justice

Environmental activists display banners, placards, and umbrellas during the Global Climate Action in Bandung, West Java. [AFP]

As the world turns its eyes to Belém, Brazil, for COP30, one truth stands out: The global energy transition is happening, but it is not happening fast enough, fairly enough, nor is it unfolding at the scale demanded by science or justice.

At COP28 in Dubai in 2023, leaders pledged to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030. Yet two years on, only 19 of 60 countries that have submitted new climate plans even reference that goal.