COP30 Day 3 underscored a clear message: the climate transition will rise or fall on society’s ability to build skills, protect cultural heritage, and strengthen trust in public information. With governments, multilateral institutions and civil society announcing new initiatives across jobs, education, Indigenous leadership and information integrity, the day marked a shift toward equipping people — not just systems — for the realities of a warming world.
Jobs and skills move to the core of climate strategy
The launch of the Global Initiative on Jobs and Skills for the New Economy set the tone early in the day, positioning human capacity as a foundation of resilient economic planning. The initiative’s flagship report estimates that the clean energy and adaptation transition could generate more than 650 million jobs globally over the next decade. Eight countries — Brazil, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa and Egypt — committed to begin operationalizing the initiative’s action plan, with a broader coalition expected to exceed 20 countries by 2028.
This focus on employment and training signals a pivotal shift for finance ministries and labour departments, linking climate policy with labour-market strategy and national competitiveness.
Indigenous leadership elevated as a pillar of adaptation
The High-Level Indigenous Adaptation event reinforced that ancestral knowledge and community governance structures are now shaping national and global adaptation architecture. Leaders presented Indigenous-developed adaptation plans, including five from Brazil’s Indigenous Council of Roraima, showing how local methodologies can be integrated into the Global Goal on Adaptation.
The day made clear that the next frontier of resilience requires Indigenous-led financing channels and mechanisms that enable community ownership of adaptation plans.
Confronting misinformation becomes a formal climate priority
For the first time in UN climate negotiations, information integrity featured centrally on the COP agenda. Six countries — Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands — joined the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, which aims to strengthen legal frameworks, mobilize funding and develop a Charter of Principles for accountable climate advertising.
Newly announced projects will support governments in addressing mis- and disinformation, with a plan to mobilize USD 10 million through UNESCO’s fund by 2028. The initiative reflects a rising consensus that climate ambition depends on public trust — and that digital governance is now a climate issue.
Public procurement and investor action align with just transition goals
At COP30 Day 3 – a new plan launched by UNIDO and the Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative placed public procurement at the center of the just transition. Through the Belém Declaration on Sustainable Public Procurement, early participants — Brazil, Mexico, Norway and the Netherlands — committed to advancing low-emission cement, concrete and steel while embedding fair labour and inclusive action.
At the Asset Owners Summit, global investors and development financiers agreed to deliver a read-out for finance ministers outlining priority solutions for capital deployment. The discussion aligned with the release of the latest High-Level Expert Group report on integrated climate finance, reinforcing the need for policy signals that lower risk and accelerate investment in emerging markets.
Culture, storytelling and intergenerational leadership
Climate action also took a cultural turn. A new plan to integrate cultural heritage into National Adaptation Plans aims to expand heritage-inclusive adaptation planning and operational guidance. Artists, ministers and Indigenous leaders highlighted how narratives help societies internalize climate risk and sustain political will.
“Art and culture are powerful bridges — they connect hearts, awaken awareness, and move people to action,” said Margareth Menezes, Brazil’s Minister of Culture.
Youth leaders took the stage for a high-level dialogue emphasizing justice, participation and long-term accountability.
“Beyond environmental racism, beyond injustice, we continue fighting — and we need young people in this fight,” said Marcele Oliveira, Youth Climate Champion of the COP30 Presidency.
Maloca broadens global participation
Maloca, COP30’s digital engagement platform, continued to showcase community-led climate solutions, with sessions spanning racial justice, traditional knowledge and NDC transparency. With live multilingual access, the platform is widening participation for those unable to attend in person, particularly from Global South communities.
Negotiations
COP30 President Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago reflected a cautiously optimistic tone: “There is a strong indication that everybody who is here wants to show the world that multilateralism works and that we’re all together to prove that,” he said.
Looking ahead
COP30 Day 3 shifted the centre of gravity toward people and institutions — skills, justice, culture, labour and truth. Tomorrow’s programming will intensify that focus through a full Day of Justice, a ministerial on health and climate, and new dialogues on education, carbon accounting and Indigenous leadership, defining how societies will prepare for the demands of the next decade.
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