Brazil is positioning itself as an important player for multilateralism and international law in global crises and geopolitical upheavals. This raises high hopes for COP30 in November under the Brazilian presidency – but the challenges are also immense.

The danger posed by global climate and environmental crises has been known for decades, but so far it has not been possible to address them effectively and fairly on a global scale. An overview of the most important international climate agreements, how they work, their potential and the challenges they face.

Grand visions, bold announcements – yet implementation remains sluggish. Green hydrogen was hailed early on as a beacon of hope for the Global South, but the project risks falling into familiar patterns of raw material export and asymmetric dependency. 

Human rights expert Lotte Leicht explains how the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion reshapes the climate debate: states are legally bound to prevent climate harm. At COP30, states can no longer treat climate action as optional.

Trump’s tariff hike on Brazil targets its digital sovereignty, pressuring it to ease Big Tech regulations. Backed by tech giants and Bolsonaro allies, the move drew backlash from Brazil’s government and civil society defending democratic control over tech platforms.

High multipolarity, low multilateralism: In a world in crisis, María Fernanda Espinosa challenges our assumptions, critiques the global financial architecture, and offers a bold vision for the future of the United Nations.