A session highlighting subnational climate cooperation concluded Friday at the China Pavilion during COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Running from November 10 through the conference's duration, the pavilion has become a hub for discussing localized approaches to global climate challenges.
Scholars, former policymakers, and international organization representatives examined how regional collaborations accelerate emissions reduction and green transition. Deborah Seligsohn, former U.S. environmental diplomat and current Villanova University professor, presented joint research with Tsinghua University's Hu Bin on scalable local solutions.
Roundtable discussions revealed growing consensus that city-to-city partnerships and interlinked carbon markets are transforming climate governance. Participants noted successes in renewable energy adoption and disaster-resilient infrastructure projects across Asia and South America.
While celebrating progress, experts identified persistent challenges including funding gaps and policy coordination barriers. They proposed enhanced platforms for technical knowledge-sharing and standardized metrics for tracking subnational climate commitments.
The dialogue concluded with calls to integrate local climate initiatives into national strategies, particularly in energy transition and sustainable urban development. As COP30 continues through December, the China Pavilion remains a critical space for practical climate diplomacy.
