CEET at COP30: Engineering the Energy Transition

October 31, 2025

By Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET)

Setting the Scene: Energy Goals, Global Stocktake, and NDCs

From November 10-21, 2025, Belém, Brazil, hosted the 30th UN Conference of the Parties (COP30), which was an important moment and anniversary for the Paris Agreement. By the conclusion of the conference, 195 parties adopted the Belém Package, which included commitments on the following:

The first dedicated just transition mechanism;
New guidance for the Global Goal on Adaptation;
A pathway toward mobilizing 1.3 trillion USD annually by 2035 for climate finance;
Tripling adaptation finance by 2035; and
Operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund’s replenishment cycle.

The Belém Package also included the Mutirão Decision, which emphasized collective mobilization and set out practical implementation tools. Notable implementation mechanisms for this process include the Global Implementation Accelerator and the Belém Mission to 1.5°C. These efforts are designed to support countries as they implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), while also increasing ambition and accelerating progress across the energy system.

For emerging markets and developing economies, COP30 reaffirmed that accessible and affordable financing remains essential to modernize grids, deploy storage, expand renewable energy, and strengthen energy efficiency. These elements will be central to narrowing the implementation gap and advancing a just energy transition worldwide.

Watch Rosana Santos, member of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET), discuss why a just energy transition is vital, especially for emerging markets and developing economies.

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated before COP30, “the fossil fuel age is flailing and failing,” marking what he called “the dawn of a new energy era.” Building on the momentum from Belém, the Governments of Colombia and the Netherlands announced they will co-host the First International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, dedicated to developing a collective approach to phasing out fossil fuels.

CEET Highlights from COP30

On the sidelines of COP30, the CEET launched two issue briefs developed with key partner institutions:

Main Challenges for Scaling up Green Hydrogen in the Short Term – Developed in partnership with SEforALL’s 24/7 Carbon-free Energy Compact, this brief outlines seven key recommendations to unlock the green hydrogen market through coordinated policy, financial, and technical measures.
Brazil's Power Infrastructure Resilience in the Face of Climate Change and Biodiversity Conservation – Developed in partnership with Enel Foundation, this brief outlines opportunities to strengthen Brazil’s power infrastructure resilience by combining targeted grid-hardening measures, advanced digital platforms, distributed energy resources, expanded transmission capacity, and nature-based approaches that protect biodiversity.

Explore the full CEET Issue Brief collection.

CEET Events at COP30

Established under the UN Secretary-General, the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) is a high-level global body of engineers dedicated to advancing the global energy transition. Members of the CEET were at COP30, contributing to these conversations and emphasizing the importance of leveraging technical and engineering expertise in this work:

CEET-Hosted Events:

Advancing Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Article 6 Partnerships: Inclusive, Equitable, and Scalable Climate Solutions

14 November 2025 | Co-hosted by the CEET, UNIDO and UNFCCC on the official thematic Energy Day, this session explored how carbon dioxide removal (CDR) can complement emission reduction efforts through equitable Article 6 partnerships under the Paris Agreement. Panelists discussed governance, financing, and cooperation models to scale nature-based, hybrid, and engineered CDR solutions while ensuring ecosystem protection, Indigenous rights, and alignment with national and voluntary climate frameworks.

Speakers included: Rana Ghoneim (UNIDO), Emi Gui (CEET/Monash University Malaysia), Mercedes Maroto-Valer (CEET/Heriot-Watt University), Nitin Arora (UNFCCC GIH), Rosana Santos (CEET/E+ Energy Transition Institute), Semida Silveira (CEET/Cornell University), Thiago Barral (Ministry of Finance, Brazil), and Dexter Lee (UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero).

Watch the recording.

Official Launch: Green Hydrogen Task Force Fact Sheet — Unlocking Green Hydrogen for 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy

14 November 2025 | This session was co-organized by the CEET, SEforALL, and hosted by UNFCCC to launch the findings of the Green Hydrogen Task Force, which was initiated at COP29 under the 24/7 CFE Compact. The Task Force is led by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) with support from the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET). The session presented the Task Force’s seven actionable recommendations for accelerating green hydrogen deployment in the Global South through targeted policies, investment frameworks, and technology collaboration.

In the panel discussion moderated by Ali Zerouali (CEET, Co-lead of the Green H2 Task Force), Vimal Mahendru (IEC) discussed international standards as enablers of safe, interoperable, and inclusive hydrogen trade; Ricardo Gorini (IRENA) highlighted policy and grid strategies to stimulate demand while aligning with national power systems; Simran Sinha (Green Hydrogen Organisation (GH2)) focused on certification, financing, and transparency for investable projects; and Riad Meddeb (UNDP) explored institutional capacity-building and inclusive governance for early-stage hydrogen development. In his closing remarks, Stefano Marguccio, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at SEforALL, emphasized the role of green hydrogen in delivering a just and inclusive energy transition.

Watch the recording.

Accelerating the Scale-Up of Green Hydrogen in Developing Markets

14 November 2025 | Co-hosted by SEforALL and CEET at the SDG Pavilion during Energy Day at COP30, this session built on the Issue Brief on Main Challenges for Scaling Up Green Hydrogen in the Short Term, released by the Green Hydrogen Task Force at COP30. The discussion focused on practical pathways to accelerate green hydrogen deployment in developing markets, with a particular emphasis on Africa and the broader Global South.

In the panel discussion moderated by Liz Nelson (CEET), Jonas Moberg (GH2) highlighted Africa’s renewable resource potential and competitive position in the global hydrogen economy; Kevin Kariuki (AfDB) emphasized the catalytic role of public and development finance in de-risking early-stage projects; Ali Zerouali (CEET, Co-lead of the Green H2 Task Force) discussed policy instruments and private-sector considerations for accelerating deployment; and Petra Schwager (UNIDO) shared lessons from international hydrogen hubs and context-specific industrial strategies. The session underscored that green hydrogen can advance both decarbonization and a just, inclusive energy transition.

Watch the recording.

CEET-Involved Events:

Green Energy Zones and Corridors

2 November 2025 | Hosted by Climate Parliament and UNIDO, with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) at the Rio Parliamentary Green Investment Summit, this session explored the design, development, and implementation of Green Energy Zones at multiple scales, highlighting progress since the COP29 pledge and the role of legislators in deploying decarbonization technologies.

CEET Representatives: Rosana Santos (Executive Director, E+ Energy Transition Institute), Renato Ciminelli (President, Instituto Quadrilatero), and Luisa Valentim Barros (Brazil Country Lead, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet)

Clean and Efficient Energy Solutions

12 November 2025 | Hosted by IEC at the Standards Pavilion, this session examined how standards can accelerate energy efficiency across sectors, emphasizing underserved communities, policy pathways, and practical applications from clean cooking to smart grid integration.

CEET Representative: Semida Silveira (Professor, Cornell University)

Convening for Climate Action: Interoperability, Practice, and Action

12 November 2025 | Hosted by IEC, Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation (GIB), and ISEAL at the Standards Pavilion, this closed-door session brought together sustainability standards and certification systems to share best practices, improve interoperability, and foster global adoption of climate-resilient standards.

CEET Representatives: Mercedes Maroto-Valer (Director, IDRIC / Deputy Principal, Heriot-Watt University) and Wangari Muchiri (Director, Global Wind Energy Council)

From Livestock Waste to Climate Solutions: Policies, Technologies, and Cooperation for Methane Mitigation

13 November 2025 | Hosted by Instituto 17 (i17), MAPA, Embrapa Swine and Poultry, and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) at the AgriZone Pavilion, this roundtable focused on scalable solutions to reduce methane emissions from livestock systems and launched Animal Waste Management for Methane Mitigation: Lessons from Brazil for Global Action, promoting international knowledge exchange.

CEET Representative: Alessandro Sanches Pereira (Executive Director, Instituto 17)

COP30 Hydrogen Action Agenda Event: “Accelerating Hydrogen — A High-Level Implementation Dialogue”

15 November 2025 | Hosted by Hydrogen Breakthrough, IPHE, UNIDO, and the International Hydrogen Trade Forum (IHTF) in the Blue Zone, this session convened senior government, industry, and finance leaders to advance implementation of the COP30 Presidency’s Plan to Accelerate Renewable and Low-Emissions Hydrogen and its Derivatives (PAS). The discussion focused on scaling hydrogen demand, mobilizing finance, and supporting a just and equitable transition.

CEET Representatives: Ali Zerouali (HIF Global, Co-lead of the Green H2 Task Force) and Liz Nelson (Program Manager, SDSN)

Strengthening Capacity Building for the Energy Transition

15 November 2025 | Hosted by GEIDCO, UNFCCC, PCCB, and SDSN at the UNFCCC Capacity-building Hub, this session addressed capacity gaps in policy, human resources, project preparation, financing, and cross-border coordination, sharing practical experiences and collaborative mechanisms for future action.

CEET Representative: Liz Nelson (Program Manager, SDSN)

Additional Resources

To learn more about the CEET or its activities at COP30, please contact the Secretariat at ceet@unsdsn.org.