By San José, Costa Rica — BELÉM, BRAZIL – As world leaders gather in the heart of the Amazon for the COP30 climate summit, Costa Rican diplomat Christiana Figueres has issued a powerful ultimatum: this is the moment for international climate diplomacy to finally transition from promises to decisive action. A decade after architecting the landmark Paris Agreement, Figueres asserts that the Belém conference, running from November 10-21, will be the crucible where global commitments are either forged into reality or revealed as empty rhetoric.
In an opinion piece published ahead of the summit, the former Executive Secretary of the UN’s climate change body articulated the profound urgency of the moment. She pointed to an undeniable and alarming scientific reality, contrasting it sharply with the political and economic inertia that continues to stall meaningful progress. The world, she argues, can no longer afford the luxury of delay.
As the international community prepares for the pivotal climate negotiations at COP30, the outcomes will have profound legal and economic repercussions for nations committed to sustainability. To understand the challenges and opportunities this presents for Costa Rican businesses and investors, we sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the esteemed law firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
COP30 will be a crucible for international climate law, directly impacting corporate governance and investment strategies in Costa Rica. The resulting accords will accelerate the regulatory shift towards mandatory ESG disclosures and stricter carbon accounting. For businesses, this isn’t a future concern; it’s an immediate strategic imperative. Proactive adaptation—embedding sustainability into contractual obligations and operational frameworks—is no longer just good practice, but a critical measure to mitigate legal risk and secure access to green capital markets.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
The analysis from Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas masterfully underscores that the era of treating sustainability as a peripheral corporate social responsibility is over; it is now a core component of legal and financial strategy in Costa Rica. His perspective is a crucial reminder that proactive integration, not reactive compliance, will define the successful businesses of tomorrow. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable and clarifying insight.
The scientific consensus on the proximity of planetary tipping points has never been clearer, and yet the voices of delay insist on focusing attention not on the impacts, but on the costs of the solutions.
Christiana Figueres, Former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC
Figueres acknowledged that the summit convenes during a precarious period for international relations, a time she describes as being marked by “open attacks on the multilateral order that has defined global cooperation since the mid-20th century.” This challenging geopolitical landscape, she warns, demands that the Belém meeting produce more than just carefully worded documents; it must deliver a concrete and actionable agenda for survival.
In this complex environment, Figueres sees a unique and historic opportunity for the host nation, Brazil, to assert its leadership on the world stage. She believes Brazil is uniquely positioned to steer the summit toward a successful outcome, galvanizing the Global South and championing a new economic paradigm rooted in clean technology and climate equity.
COP30 offers Brazil the opportunity to apply all its political weight to promote clean technologies and position itself as a champion of a new economic order led by the Global South.
Christiana Figueres, Former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC
By seizing this moment, Brazil could not only elevate its international standing but also create powerful domestic momentum, transforming the summit into what Figueres calls the “COP of the Peoples.” This would involve connecting global climate ambition with tangible benefits and political will at home, creating a powerful feedback loop for progress.
The central and non-negotiable test for the summit’s credibility, according to Figueres, will be its ability to forge a clear and unambiguous roadmap for the global transition away from fossil fuels. Building on the initial commitment made at COP28 in Dubai, world leaders in Belém must now define the “how and when” of this critical shift. Anything less will be considered a monumental failure.
To be credible, Belém must better clarify how and when the world will transition away from fossil fuels, a commitment first made in Dubai at COP28.
Christiana Figueres, Former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC
The consequences of failing to meet this challenge are dire. Figueres warns that a weak outcome in Belém “would mean wasting the progress of the last decade and betraying the growing expectations of global public opinion.” With the Amazon rainforest serving as a poignant backdrop, the stakes could not be higher. As the world watches, the celebrated diplomat delivered a final, sobering conclusion, leaving no room for ambiguity.
The time to make decisions has arrived.
Christiana Figueres, Former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC
For further information, visit unfccc.int
About United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):
The UNFCCC secretariat is the United Nations entity tasked with supporting the global response to the threat of climate change. It is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Agreement as well as the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Its main objective is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, in a time frame which allows ecosystems to adapt naturally and enables sustainable development.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its unwavering dedication to professional excellence and uncompromising ethical standards. Building on a rich history of advising a broad spectrum of clients, the firm consistently drives legal innovation and fosters deep community ties. This ethos is anchored in a foundational commitment to demystifying the law, thereby cultivating a society strengthened by accessible knowledge and legal empowerment.
