December 12, 2025 • 2 min read
Accelerating climate action in the Amazon: Five key takeaways from COP30
Reflections from Fabricio Sousa, President, Worley Consulting and Technology Solutions
The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, marked a historic moment as the first COP held in the Amazon region. Leaders from government, industry, and academia gathered to accelerate practical action on climate change.
Throughout the summit, Worley Consulting & Technology Solutions President, Fabricio Sousa, engaged with organizations across sectors – from energy and chemicals to mining, infrastructure, and digital businesses. The focus was clear: how to balance immediate energy needs with long-term sustainability, secure the right mix of power for growth, and access the capital required to scale climate programs.
“Our partners are seeking practical collaboration, not just theory. They want to make faster decisions, reduce risk and costs, and turn ambition into engineered, bankable projects. At Worley, we’re committed to supporting them as they move from commitment to action.”
Fabricio Sousa
Five key takeaways from COP30
1. The time to act is now
Participants emphasized the urgency of moving from ambition to action. While the multilateral framework for climate cooperation remains intact, progress has been challenged by shifting geopolitical dynamics. The absence of a global roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels in the final agreement highlights the need for accelerated delivery and practical solutions.
2. Parallel progress is driving change
Beyond formal negotiations, significant advances are being made through industry groups, financial organizations, and coalitions such as the Energy Transitions Commission and Climate Leaders Coalition. These parallel efforts are helping to accelerate the energy transition and support climate adaptation and resilience, especially when international consensus is difficult to achieve.
3. Prioritizing efficiency and energy addition
Meeting growing energy demand while achieving climate goals requires a balanced approach – expanding supply from conventional, transitional, and sustainable sources. Efficiency in project delivery remains a top priority, with organizations seeking faster decisions and more reliable outcomes. Leveraging new technologies and approaches will be essential.
4. Artificial Intelligence as an enabler
AI-driven energy use, particularly from data centers, is increasing demand and accelerating the pace of change in the power sector. While concerns about energy consumption exist, AI’s potential to model climate risk, optimize investments, and forecast impacts can help accelerate climate action – provided energy supplies are managed sustainably.
5. Bridging ambition and delivery
We’re uniquely positioned to help bridge the infrastructure delivery gap between climate ambition and actionable solutions. As articulated in our From Ambition to Reality series, we lay out five key shifts in the approach required to build infrastructure at an unprecedented scale and speed. By leveraging decades of industry expertise, Worley is uniquely placed to deliver viable projects mobilizing climate finance to align policy with the practical delivery of assets.
As the global community looks ahead to COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, the focus remains on cooperation, parallel efforts, and practical implementation to drive meaningful progress on climate action.
