Writen by André Dantas and Gabriel Pedro
The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP 30) was a highly anticipated event held in Belém, at the heart of the Amazon. This recurring climate summit took place from November 10 to 21. This article was originally drafted before the conference and finalized after its conclusion, allowing us to compare the planned agenda with what was actually discussed. COP30 brought together global leaders to debate climate justice, sustainability, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. Among these subjects, this article focuses specifically on energy, both the planned discussions and the real debates that unfolded during the event.
Pre-planned topics
At COP 30, many energy topics were scheduled for discussion. This section will focus on the predefined subjects set before the conference began.
One of the most important predefined topics was the scaling of sustainable fuels. This initiative was highlighted through the Belem 4X Pledge — a commitment to quadruple global usage of sustainable fuels by 2035, signed by Brazil, Italy, India, and Japan. Several other nations supported the pledge due to its broad relevance to transportation sectors such as maritime shipping, aviation, and road transport. The main goal was to create a unified clean-fuel standard and transparent carbon-accounting systems, ultimately accelerating the transition to renewable and low-carbon energy.
Some of these sustainable fuels are:
- Biofuels (Ethanol and Biodiesel): produced from grown organic materials, like sugarcane, corn, or vegetable oils. Brazil is a leading producer of biofuels, and it is used widely in cars due to their “Flex Fuel” technology.
- Green hydrogen: generated by splitting water using electricity. This fuel emits no CO2 and is being tested for long-distance shipping.
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): a cleaner alternative for airplanes, made from waste oils, plant material, or captured CO₂. Several airlines already use SAF blends to cut emissions during flights. [Insert photo of aircraft or SAF facility]
- E-fuels / Synthetic Fuels: created by combining green hydrogen with captured CO₂, producing liquid fuels that can replace gasoline or diesel without modifying engines. These are being explored especially for aviation and shipping.
Another predefined topic was improving power networks and expanding energy storage capacity. This topic is closely linked to sustainable fuels because a functional clean-energy transition depends on strong electrical grids and reliable storage systems. Leading up to COP30, the Utilities for Net Zero Alliance announced a commitment to invest approximately US$1 trillion to triple renewable generation capacity by 2030. Most of the funds are directed toward long-distance transmission lines, battery storage systems, and infrastructure upgrades. To coordinate this large transition, countries established the Global Grids and Storage Coordination Council.
Energy storage grabbed more focus, particularly as talks shifted from ideas to real-world issues in running a grid packed with renewables. Because sunlight and wind aren’t always available, nations are leaning harder on tech that stores power, balancing out dips in generation so electricity keeps flowing when output fades. Still, storing energy is pricey – mainly due to expensive base materials, big builds, or the challenge of keeping things running smoothly over time. Take lithium-ion batteries: they need elements like lithium, nickel, or cobalt, which add up in extraction and refining costs. An old solution was to use water as a way to store energy, by pumping it to high places when energy demand was low and then letting it back down through turbines when it was high.
The final major pre-planned topic concerned reducing global transportation energy demand. This does not mean people should travel less. Instead, the goal is to reduce fossil-fuel use in transportation by replacing diesel and gasoline with cleaner alternatives. Delegates entering COP30 aimed to reduce fossil-fuel demand in transportation by 25% by 2035.
One of the greatest tasks the COP 30 embarked on was reducing the global transportation system’s dependence on polluting energy sources. The plan focuses on boosting performance while phasing out highly polluting energy sources in land, sky, and sea travel. Moving forward means leaving behind conventional oil-based fuels in favor of renewable biological options that release much lower carbon emissions across their entire life cycle. The idea behind the proposal is not to use fewer vehicles. It is trying to get companies and governments to embrace biofuels, which drastically reduce harmful emissions and harmful extraction processes.
Discussed topics/Main topics discussed
At COP 30 itself, the issue of artificial intelligence and its impact on the environment became a central talking point. While some delegates praised AI for helping predict weather patterns and optimize renewable-energy grids, others raised urgent environmental concerns about the enormous amount of electricity and water the technology consumes, potentially undermining global climate goals.
One major concern highlighted at the conference was the rapid growth in electricity consumption by AI systems and the data centers that run them. According to The Washington Post, data centers today consume about 1.5% of all global electricity, a figure rising so quickly that the newspaper described it as “an explosive surge.” This prompted climate activists at COP30 to question whether the world can maintain climate commitments while expanding energy-hungry AI infrastructure. Speaking at the summit, Jean Su of the Center for Biological Diversity said, “AI is currently an unregulated beast everywhere,” emphasizing fears that server-farm expansion could offset renewable-energy gains.
As electricity consumption rises, concerns about water usage also grow. Many attendees stressed that data centers use vast quantities of water to keep servers cool — especially in regions facing droughts or water scarcity. During a side discussion at COP30, climate researcher Vishal Jain explained that the rapid rise of AI conceals a hidden cost, saying, “Behind this surge in AI development, there is always a carbon, energy, or water footprint
that most people don’t see.” Experts noted that a single large data center can use millions of gallons of water per day. But how exactly do these Data centers “lose” water? Data centers get hot since countless servers operate together. To avoid excess temperature, some sites apply evaporative cooling. Much like perspiration regulates body heat. Liquid flows across unique pads; when it turns into vapor, warmth exits the indoor air. This approach demands less power compared to standard AC systems, making it appealing for businesses, but it requires substantial water volume. Once cooled, excess warm water might flow into nearby rivers – or get cleaned first for reuse – based on regional rules. In certain areas, discharging heated water raises stream temperatures, affecting fish and ecosystems; this pushes experts to call for tighter ecological monitoring.
This debate opened wider conversations about regulating AI’s climate impact. Civil-society groups urged negotiators to require future data centers to operate entirely on renewable energy and undergo environmental impact reviews before construction. Technological representatives, however, warned against focusing solely on the negative aspects. Google’s sustainability director, Adam Elman, argued that AI is “a real enabler — one that is already making an impact,” pointing to early successes integrating AI into renewable-energy management.
So far, the discussions made clear that AI’s rapidly increasing energy and water demands have become one of COP30’s most complex and urgent issues — pushing delegates to consider how technological progress can support climate solutions instead of working against them.As the COP ends, key results help explain the talks that defined it. Even though conversations about energy and digital systems started earlier, progress became clearer in the last days of COP 30 – some plans advanced, others slowed, while certain issues stayed open for later talks.
One idea that made clear progress at COP 30 was the Belem 4X Sustainable Fuels Pledge, officially accepted by nations following seven days of talks. Though first presented ahead of the summit, its goal is to boost worldwide sustainable fuel usage fourfold by 2035. By the meeting’s close, participants agreed not just on the promise but also on a basic system to track results – such as yearly updates on biofuels, growth in green aviation fuel, along with funding for cleaner maritime energy. Some states that earlier expressed mere “interest” chose to join during the gathering, lending broader global support than many thought likely.
Conclusion
The debates at COP30 showed that the global energy transition is far more than a technical challenge: it is deeply tied to justice, technology, and economic strategy. The pre-COP goals of expanding sustainable fuels, strengthening power grids, and reducing fossil-fuel use in transportation remain essential pillars of the world’s path to decarbonization. At the same time, the unexpected prominence of AI’s environmental footprint highlighted the need for new regulatory frameworks and more transparent energy accounting for the digital sector.As the world accelerates toward a renewable future, the COP30 discussions demonstrate that society must balance technological advancement with environmental responsibility. The energy transition requires not only investment and innovation, but also planning, oversight, and an honest understanding of the costs and trade-offs involved.
EAC PRESS 