COP30: Luxembourg marks its presence with a national pavilion and ambitious initiatives
La 30e he United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) took place in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 22 November 2025. After long and complex negotiations, the parties, including the Luxembourg delegation led by Serge Wilmes, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, succeeded in adopting an agreement.
As part of this agreement, the Minister negotiated on behalf of the European Union the follow-up to the first global stocktake.
At the end of COP30, the European Union (EU) did not oppose the package of decisions adopted, in order to allow global climate action, cooperation and international solidarity to continue. It reaffirmed its readiness to provide the most vulnerable countries with the support they need to cope with the consequences of climate change, stressing that it was essential for these countries to reach an agreement today. However, in terms of mitigation, the EU noted that the package was still largely insufficient to meet the scientific requirements and the expectations of the international community to achieve the objective of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The EU did, however, welcome the recognition of the pivotal role of science, at a time when this was under threat.
The European Union has also noted that the global response to climate change remains insufficiently clear, particularly with regard to the development of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) aligned with the 1.5°C target - a target to which the EU has responded with its own NDC for 2035.
Minister Serge Wilmes said: «Global efforts are far too slow. This package is insufficient. However, Europe must do everything in its power to keep these efforts alive. We came here with a commitment to reduce our own emissions by 90 % by 2040 and to help achieve the 300 billion NCQG, while some states are constantly undermining the process and preventing ambition. The negotiations have been extremely difficult, particularly last night. But there is a compromise on the table - barely acceptable - achieved after many hours of negotiations.»Luxembourg regrets the absence in the adopted text of a roadmap for the gradual elimination of fossil fuels and a roadmap for halting deforestation. However, it welcomes the maintenance of the objective of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as well as the clear recognition of the IPCC as the scientific source of reference. The package also includes the Global Implementation Accelerator, which encompasses mitigation measures and aims to reduce both the emissions gap and the ambition gap.
The Luxembourg national pavilion
For the first time, Luxembourg had a national pavilion at a COP in Belém, marking an important step in its presence on the international climate scene. Under the theme «Let's Make It Happen: Mutirão Meets Luxembourg»This pavilion provided a forum for international exchange and cooperation, offering a platform for highlighting the country's climate commitments and its leading role in the ecological transition.
For the duration of COP30, the Luxembourg pavilion offered a rich and varied programme with 26 events bringing together young climate delegates, international partners, renowned scientists, experts and innovators, as well as leading political decision-makers.
The pavilion welcomed over 3,500 visitors and almost 800 participants took part in the programme, including high-level representatives from several countries and international organisations.
«This success demonstrates our determination to encourage dialogue, the co-creation of solutions and the development of partnerships to further accelerate the transition and the fight against climate change. Relationships with our stakeholders, our allies and anyone willing to get involved are essential if we are to achieve our climate objectives.»said the Minister.
(More information on : Home - COP 30 Luxembourg)
The Minister took part in several events on the Luxembourg pavilion as well as on those of other countries and organisations. He also took advantage of his presence at COP30 to organise around ten bilateral meetings with his counterparts from partner countries and organisations with which Luxembourg cooperates.
Announcement of the Rio Changemakers platform
At COP30, Luxembourg announced the «Rio Changemakers» project as part of its ambitious new Climate Nexus investment programme, making a five-year financial commitment to, among other things, promoting nature-based solutions that are transparent, honest and locally driven.
Eleven ministers and high-level representatives joined the high-level roundtable, demonstrating broad international support for the creation of «Rio Changemakers», an AI-based platform that facilitates, simplifies and makes more transparent private investment in climate, biodiversity and community solutions. By synthesising and enhancing the existing offering, Rio Changemakers is helping to reduce the transaction costs of impact finance on a global scale.
This initiative aims to connect international investors with credible and concrete projects, particularly those led by indigenous peoples and local communities, thereby reinforcing the synergies of the three Rio Conventions and accelerating funding for the countries of the South.
After COP30, Rio Changemakers will enter a 12-month pilot phase and will be fully operational within four years.
The Climate Youth Delegates of Luxembourg
In parallel with the COP negotiation process, the Luxembourg delegation provided support to two young Luxembourg climate delegates, Sarah Mackel and Lara Bertemes, who were part of the Luxembourg delegation. They took part in a specific programme dedicated to young negotiators, advised members of the delegation on young people's climate priorities and played an active part in the negotiations.
The CYD programme in Luxembourg - a collaboration between the Jugendrot/CGJL and the Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity (MECB) - is an education project designed to encourage young people to get involved in climate issues. The aim is to train and support Luxembourg's youth ambassadors so that their ideas and concerns are heard at international level.
Lara Bertemes and Sarah Mackel fully assumed their role of defending these commitments, not only at COP30, but also in other international debates.
(For more information: Climate Youth Delegates Luxembourg Actuel - de Jugendrot)
The European Youth Climate Delegates have chosen Luxembourg as the winner of the first «True Young Award».»
At COP30, the Luxembourg delegation, led by Serge Wilmes, won the first «True Young Award», the European youth prize that rewards a country's exemplary commitment to the participation of young people in international climate governance. The prize, awarded by the network of European Climate Youth Delegates, recognises Luxembourg's efforts to defend the priorities of young people, promote their accessibility and put in place structures to ensure their substantial participation.
«It's a great honour and a testament to how well our young delegates have integrated into our team and the EU team. I consider it a priority to ensure that the voice of young people is heard in the negotiations, and Lara Bertemes and Sarah Mackel have made a considerable contribution, injecting energy and dynamism into our team. They have continued the excellent work done last year by our youth delegates Natasha Lepage and Frida Thorsteinsdottir.»said a delighted Serge Wilmes.