When Politics Slow Down

When COP30 recently concluded in Belém (Brazil), reactions felt familiar: cautious praise for incremental steps mixed with frustration at yet another summit that fell short of decisive commitments. The gap between political promises and real-world delivery remains wide, and global emissions continue to rise. This raises a pressing question: if international climate politics cannot keep pace with the crisis, where can meaningful momentum come from? 

Many see the European Union as one of the most forward-leaning actors in global climate diplomacy. This was underlined in Belém, where German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider reiterated that “Europe is a committed partner in the fight against climate change” and highlighted the EU’s new 2040 target (see press release by the German Environment Ministry ->). This renewed commitment is commendable and much needed. However, ambition is not delivery. Even Europe struggles to meet its own goals. Ongoing political pushback in many member states further underscores how fragile progress has become. So, if traditional climate politics are stalling, where is progress actually happening?

Where Momentum Is Emerging 

Increasingly, momentum comes from those closest to climate impacts: cities facing extreme heat, regions navigating industrial change, research institutions tracking escalating risks and communities demanding fairer futures. California’s renewed climate cooperation with the German state of Baden-Württemberg illustrates how subnational governments can move ahead even when national politics stall. 

The most dynamic centers of leadership today can be found in the Global South. Subnational actors such as Gujarat in India, expanding solar-plus-storage at scale, and Guyana’s community-based forest carbon programs show how bottom-up action can deliver tangible progress. These transitions demonstrate that climate leadership is becoming distributed and increasingly shaped by the Global South. 

At the same time, these examples highlight the complexities of subnational climate action. Regions like California and Baden-Württemberg remain tied to energy-intensive industries. Even where political will is strong, climate action must contend with entrenched economic structures and difficult transition pathways. 

What New Alliances Must Deliver 

That subnational actors matter is not new. What is new is the political significance of their role today. Their leadership becomes especially important as national and international climate politics weaken. 

On the global stage, “climate clubs” and “coalitions of the willing” allow like-minded states to move ahead. These coalitions become far more effective when they include those who are already driving real progress. This is why regional and subnational leaders, especially in the Global South, are becoming central to emerging alliances. Their experience with community-led resilience, rapid renewable deployment and nature-based approaches challenge long-held assumptions about what is possible in resource-constrained settings. 

Civil society must play a central role as well. It is not a substitute for government leadership, but it is indispensable for exposing problems, challenging governance failures, and mobilizing diverse constituencies. Civil society is also uniquely positioned to build resilience at the community level and foster solidarity in the face of intensifying climate impacts.  

Helping to Connect the Actors 

If political headwinds continue to grow, these alliances of subnational actors may become one of the few forces capable of sustaining climate ambition. Supporting them as complements to national efforts can keep the transition moving even when formal politics falter. 

The Global Solutions Initiative aims to serve as a supportive platform where such alliances can grow, helping connect those already making progress. We aim to contribute constructively, drawing on our experience convening diverse actors in moments of strained international cooperation. 

In his statement in Belém, Minister Schneider reaffirmed the EU’s 2035 and 2040 targets (see press release ->). However, the implementation and success of these stated ambitions will ultimately depend not only on national leadership, but on the strength of coordinated action across cities, regions and communities, where much of the practical implementation of these targets will need to take place.

We welcome all actors, from the subnational to the national level, who are committed to practical climate solutions to join us in shaping the coalitions needed to carry global ambition forward. We look forward to working together in the months ahead and to continuing these conversations throughout our ongoing activities and at the 2026 Global Solutions Summit in Berlin. 

 

 

Featured image: Photo of Deepak Mehra on Unsplash