Field Notes - Gentian Newsletter #04

Temperature Check: The topics we are following at COP30 

By Mana Starosta 

Ahead of COP30 taking place in Belém, Brazil next week, Hurricane Melissa serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of inaction in the face of a rapidly changing climate. 

In the run-up to COP30, 65 countries have submitted new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) outlining their action plans to limit global warming to 1.5°C under the Paris Agreement. However, a UN report has found that these pledges fall short of what is required to meet the Paris targets. 

In 2024, global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time, making it the world’s hottest year on record. As breaching the 1.5°C threshold becomes an inevitable reality, the importance of ramping up international mobilisation around climate action cannot be overstated. 

COP30 is a critical opportunity to review progress on existing pledges, form new strategies, and most importantly, support efforts to honour existing promises. We have picked out some of the most pressing topics that we are following. 

Image from COP30 (2025) (Link: https://cop30.br/en/news-about-cop30/world-leaders-gather-in-belem-to-discuss-challenges-and-commitments-in-tackling-climate-change)

Four top stories from COP30 

As world leaders, experts and campaigners prepare to convene in Brazil this week, here are three stories that caught our attention: 

• High-level US representatives will not be attending COP30 according to Trump officials. Their absence is symbolic of their increasingly hostile position on climate action. (Read here) 

• EU countries weaken their 2040 climate plan during a last-minute deal before COP30. The changes introduced are indicative of the divide between ambitious countries and less ambitious ones, calling into question whether the EU can step up as a climate leader amidst US retreat from the green economy. (Read here) 

• At COP29, countries agreed to mobilise at least $300 billion annually by 2035 for developing countries, with the goal of raising $1.3 trillion per year. At COP30, the big question remains whether countries can form a pragmatic plan to achieve this and how they will be held accountable. (Read here) 

Image from ESSG Today (2025) (Link: https://www.esgtoday.com/european-commission-proposes-target-to-reduce-emissions-90-by-2040/)

Nature restoration and climate finance is on the agenda 

At Gentian, we are paying particularly close attention to outcomes for biodiversity. It is impossible to tackle climate change without protecting and restoring nature, and targets and initiatives pursued at COP30 must reflect this. 

Given the location of the conference, on the outskirts of the Amazon rainforest, forests are at the top of the agenda with the challenging question of financing conservation (and emissions reduction/climate adaptation more broadly) looming. 

Here are two topics on nature we are following: 

• Brazil’s Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) initiative will be launched at COP30. It aims to fund long-term forest conservation through performance-based payments to countries that manage forests. The initiative requires an initial $25 billion from governments and philanthropic sponsors, which will be used as a “safety cushion” to attract $100 billion from private investment. Brazil has already committed $1 billion and the UK, Colombia, Norway and Indonesia, have expressed their support. COP30 will be a crucial moment to garner support for the ambitious and innovative initiative. 

• COP30 will be attended by 3,000 Indigenous people, including 1,000 participants in official negotiations, making it the largest Indigenous participation in the history of the conference.

  Indigenous and local communities are vital to the health of the Amazon and recognition of their role in stewarding some of the world’s most biodiverse places is vital to effective adaptation strategies. If successful, at least 20% of the TFFF would be reserved for Indigenous people and local communities.

The bottom line 

While the outlook on global warming seems dire, especially as the US backtracks on global warming, countries can still demonstrate their continued commitment to addressing climate change by showing up and setting concrete actions to meet pledges and support climate initiatives. 

Indeed, it is not all doom and gloom: 

• Temperature predictions have fallen from the 3-3.5°C range since the Paris Agreement 

• New pledges from China, India, and the EU are expected to cut emissions by 10% by 2035 compared with 2019 levels 

• Low-carbon assets continue to attract significant capital 

• Global investment in the energy transition exceeded $2 trillion for the first time last year 

• Green stocks have become highly lucrative 

These are positive signals, but the speed and scope of change remain insufficient to meet climate goals. At COP30 we hope to see countries lean into what is working in accelerating the green transition and get to work on meeting promises to the people and places that will bear the greatest burden of a warming planet. 

Gentian data powers RHS State of Gardening Report 2025 

By Jamie Rhodes 

Gentian supported the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in creating the State of Gardening Report 2025, launched in the UK Parliament on October 30th with Zoe Franklin MP. Using Gentian’s high-resolution habitat and land cover data, the RHS found that nearly half of UK garden space is now paved — a stark reminder of the need to restore nature in private gardens. 

“Gardens play a vital role in the UK’s natural network. They are where many people connect most directly with nature — and together, they form a living system that supports biodiversity, regulates temperature, and contributes to community well-being,” said Marcus Spiegel, CTO of Gentian. “We’re honoured that our data helped the RHS quantify these patterns at national scale.” 

Read the full report here

Read the Guardian's coverage of the report here 

Read our press release here 

We want YOUR notes!

Do you have a topic you want us to cover? Do you have feedback on what we have covered so far? Send us an email! We are always open to new ideas and feedback. 

Team Spotlight: Gentian @ Dreampitch 

Last month at Dreamforce, Salesforce’s annual event drawing industry leaders from across the globe, Gentian CEO Daniel White took the stage in the Dreampitch competition, showcasing how AI can accelerate a more sustainable future for our planet.

More from Gentian:

• The Essential Role of Biodiversity Data for Robust ESG Reporting

   

• Demystifying Biodiversity Metrics: A Guide to IUCN, UKHab, and EUNIS with Satellite AI

   

• Tailoring Biodiversity Solutions for Every Project Size

   

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