— Written by Lyle Jarvis

Decoding The COP Jargon 🗣️

COP is officially in full swing. And with abstract negotiations and political drama brewing in the background, it can be hard to get to the heart of the matter, and understand what to hope for as the week goes on. Here’s our breakdown of a few core objectives shaping the conference:

When you read about: "Countries must submit new 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)"
It really means: NDCs are essentially climate plans and pledges for countries to ditch fossil fuels, helping shape global progress on the Paris Agreement’s long-term goals. Countries across the globe were supposed to submit pledges to align with the crucial 1.5°C limit, but most are nowhere near the mark.

Bonus read: UN sees emissions falling 10% by 2035, far short of 60% goal (Bloomberg)

The good news is, NDCs are in the spotlight this year, and honing them can create a positive ripple all the way to your kitchen table. A strong pledge means investing in insulation, modernizing the grid, and building clean energy, all of which can double as an "inflation shield" and lower household costs for good.

When you read about: "A new global climate finance goal (NCQG) of trillions of dollars."
It really means: The "new collective quantified goal" or "NCQG," is a call for boosting climate finance across the globe. This isn't an "aid" handout, it's about global fairness, and wealthy, polluting nations bucking up to invest their fair share. Developed nations had previously committed to a $300 billion climate finance goal to developing countries by 2035, but now have their sights set on $1.3 trillion in total international climate finance. Last month in the newsletter, we talked about the importance of ensuring nations have investable climate plans to attract commercial capital, read more about it here.

Developed countries are also being asked to pay for the damage and to help developing nations build their economies green. Investing in climate action in developing nations helps keep prices down in developed nations through stabilizing global supply chains, and phasing out dirty, volatile fossil fuel markets. Thanks to the ICJ ruling earlier this year, the movement for climate reparations has become a legal reality, giving a powerful new bargaining chip at COP..

Bonus read: ‘Existential and urgent’: what impact will ICJ climate ruling have on Cop30? (The Guardian)

When you read about: "Brazil’s 'bio-economy' and securing Indigenous land rights
It really means: Justice as a climate solution. This year’s conference was marketed as “the most indigenous COP to date. Indigenous territories are also often the most preserved, and their participation on the frontlines (everyone’s participation, for that matter) is absolutely crucial to our global survival and success. The conference is also an opportunity for Brazil to position their bioeconomy as a central pillar in its climate agenda.

Disappointingly, it hasn’t gone as planned. Estimates show as low as 14% of indigenous representatives secured accreditation for the Blue Zone, the restricted area for official negotiations. Protestors have also been clashing with security guards, demanding climate action, forest protection, and land rights. 

Bonus read: ‘We are not here for theater’: Can the ‘most Indigenous COP’ live up to the hype? (Grist)

💅 COP Content Inspo

COP is also the kind of news that can often leave us feeling small, bored, or helpless. But by translating the jargon and understanding what these negotiations actually mean for our everyday lives, we can skip the "doom and gloom" and find productive, actionable narratives to share with your friends. Here are a couple to get you started:

• Green is the Growth Story of the 21st Century
  This is one of the strongest narratives of optimism, shifting climate action from a cost to an investment. 91% of renewable projects are now cheaper than fossil fuels.
  

• Technological Acceleration: The Clean Tech Revolution is Here
  The narrative is that innovation is making climate solutions inevitable, regardless of policy inertia. Technology is becoming the ultimate driver of optimism. Global solar PV capacity grew by a record ∼600 GW in 2024, and total renewable capacity is projected to increase by a staggering ∼4,600 GW between 2025 and 2030.

The Memo Heard Around the World

Speaking of narratives, Bill Gates’ memo has been causing quite the stir over the past week or so. It’s triggered immediate, chaotic response from climate scientists, with some critics arguing he created a "false dichotomy" between climate and poverty. Gates pushed back, telling Axios that foreign aid budgets are, in fact, often a "numeric game" where resources must be prioritized between health and climate.

However, scientists maintained that this "dangerous framing" legitimized arguments for inaction, despite Gates’s own pledge to increase funding for both areas.

In case you missed it: Sammy Roth had four climate scientists on Climate-Colored Goggles to talk about the memo, check it out here!

👀 Some Stories You Might Have Missed This Week 🗞️📺:

1. Illinois General Assembly Passes Energy Reform Act Aiming to Reduce Rates and Reach Clean Energy Goals (Inside Climate News)

2. Democrats eye energy message to spark midterm victories (E&E Politico)

3. China’s CO2 emissions have now been flat or falling for 18 months (CarbonBrief)