Devex 2d ago

At the halfway mark between COP30 and COP31, this year’s global climate agenda is beginning to take shape. Some of the biggest fights won’t be new — finance remains unresolved, with deep divisions over who pays and how much. Yet beneath the surface, significant shifts are underway. Electrification is rising fast on the agenda, driven by concerns over energy security and geopolitical instability. Alongside it, adaptation is reclaiming the spotlight as nations push to translate vague pledges into actionable commitments. Then there is national security — perhaps the most under-reported climate story of the moment. As governments increase defense spending and domestic resilience planning, an open question remains: Can any of that enormous amount of capital be co-opted to serve global climate goals? The incoming COP31 presidency has laid out an ambitious slate of priorities, spanning food systems, ocean conservation, and green industrialization. However, as always, the real test will be whether those priorities align with what low- and middle-income countries are demanding.