As global climate negotiations enter yet another critical phase, and with the specter of U.S. bullying and violence hanging over proceedings, the future of multilateralism – international cooperation to solve shared problems – is in question.
While governments at COP30 talk about “saving multilateralism,” rich countries are still dodging the basic requirement of any multilateral system: everyone plays by the rules, puts something on the table, and does their fair share.
Brandon Wu, Director of Policy & Campaigns for ActionAid USA, said:
“Multilateralism is under threat, in part because for it to work, all parties have to put something on the table. Everybody has to contribute and do their part. But right now, richer countries are asking the world to believe in a system they themselves aren’t upholding. They talk about defending multilateralism yet refuse to do their fair share of emissions cuts or pay their fair share of climate finance.
When the countries with the most resources won’t contribute their fair share, the entire system falters. Cooperation can’t survive on rhetoric alone; it needs tangible commitments. If wealthy nations want multilateralism to endure, they have to stop dodging responsibility and start delivering.
We will judge any outcome of COP30 based on whether or not it will deliver real resources to communities and for a just transition away from fossil fuels, dirty agribusiness, and deforestation. At this point in the climate crisis, empty promises without commitments from rich countries to do their fair share are inadequate and unjust.”
Decades into the climate crisis, communities in the Global South are living with escalating loss and damage, while wealthy countries continue to delay, dilute, and dodge their obligations. The gap between what is promised in speeches and what is actually delivered in public climate finance is now threatening the credibility of the entire process.
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Brandon Wu is the Director of Policy and Campaigns for ActionAid USA; he has been closely following climate negotiations since 2012. Brandon is an expert on climate finance and fairness and equity globally, with a recent focus on the establishment of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. He is a current board member of the US Climate Action Network, a former board member of Climate Action Network-International, and was the elected civil society representative on the Green Climate Fund board during its formative years from 2013-2015. Brandon is available for interviews at COP30 in Belem.
You can follow Brandon on Blue Sky and X: @brandoncwu.bsky.social @brandoncwu
For media requests, please email christal.james@actionaid.org or call 7046659743.