COP30: Intellectual Property, technology transfer, justice, and Indigenous knowledge

Every year, EU SMEs hear a lot about the COP30 and about its political implications. But, how may this event affect us in the near future, and what is there to catch regarding Intellectual Property?

What is COP30?

COP30 is the big UN climate conference being held in Belém, in the Brazilian Amazon, from 10–21 November 2025. It’s the 30th “Conference of the Parties” to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Holding COP30 in Belém, in the Amazon region, is very symbolic and political: 

• The Amazon is a critical carbon sink and biodiversity hotspot, but also a frontline of deforestation, mining, and land conflicts.
• Brazil wants to show that it can reduce deforestation while promoting development and social inclusion.
• There is strong emphasis on Indigenous rights and local communities, who are central to protecting forests and rivers.

EU at COP30 Climate Change Conference

President Ursula von der Leyen was in Belém, Brazil, where she took part in the opening of the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference with world leaders. The President reaffirmed the EU's commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and reiterated that Europe is staying the course on its climate commitments. The EU will continue leading these efforts, acting as a reliable and ambitious partner that is delivering at home, driving cooperation and decarbonisation abroad.

At COP30, the EU pushes the international community to strive for bolder action to cut emissions and adapt to the impact of the climate crisis.

The EU focuses on:

• driving efforts to keep the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach
• presenting an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 66.25% to 72.5% below 1990 levels by 2035
• accelerating action on climate adaptation to build resilience worldwide
• enhancing the mobilisation of international climate finance, particularly for vulnerable countries
• promoting a just and equitable energy transition away from fossil fuels, ensuring that no country is left behind

The Commission has proposed an amendment to the EU Climate Law, setting a 2040 climate target of a 90% reduction (85% domestic target and up to 5% of international carbon credits) in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels. 

On the path to 2040, the EU has agreed on a Nationally Determined Contribution that will be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The NDC is to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 66.25% to 72.5% below 1990 levels by 2035.

Intellectual Property, technology transfer, justice, and Indigenous knowledge

Intellectual property has come up around COP30 in 2025, though mainly in the context of technology transfer, justice, and Indigenous knowledge rather than as a standalone agenda item.

• The Political Declaration of the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon Basin (prepared for COP30) demands recognition of collective rights of authorship, intellectual property, and governance over Indigenous knowledge systems, and asks that these demands be carried into COP30 negotiation spaces.
• A BRICS climate finance recommendation linked to COP30 highlighted progress on intellectual property cooperation, aiming to improve access to patents, technologies, and climate-related knowledge via a shared platform.
• The Political Declaration of the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon Basin (prepared for COP30) demands recognition of collective rights of authorship, intellectual property, and governance over Indigenous knowledge systems.
• A Just Transition Lab communique by youth delegates for COP30 calls for measures such as intellectual property (IP) waivers for key climate technologies to speed up deployment in the Global South.

• WIPO GREEN launched the 4th Green Technology Book, explicitly framing climate solutions as being enabled by an effective intellectual property system, and positioning IP as a tool to scale green innovation.

   

Green Technology sector in focus: 

At the Latin America IP SME Helpdesk, we take this topic seriously, as many companies coming to us have several questions regarding how EU SMEs can protect their green technologies. Plenty of events in Europe and Latin America cover this sector, as it is one of the most significant sectors with ICT. Thus, the Heldespk has a page just covering "Green Sector", working as a Hub of all our content relating to IP, green sector, and IP protection in Latin America. This page is the main index for all green-tech-related content: it explicitly covers circular economy, collaborative platforms, green energy, and green technology, and, more broadly, energy, climate change, and environment.

Main IP materials: 

• Factsheet IP in the renewable sector.
• Factsheet IP and the circular economy.
• Infographic: IP in the green technology sector in Latin America

Main Articles: 

• About circular economy and green patents in Brazil
• A more sustainable world, thanks to an SME and its relationship with intellectual property
• IPDAY 2020: Tackling climate change with innovation for a green future
• Sustainable development and IP rights

Contact us

The Latin America IP SME Helpdesk is a valuable resource for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking guidance on intellectual property rights in Latin America. The Helpdesk provides expertise on a range of IP issues to protect and enforce intellectual property (IP) rights in or relating to Latin American countries, offering practical advice to help businesses protect their innovations and creations in the region, also in the green technology sector. Overall, the Latin America IP SME Helpdesk plays a crucial role in supporting SMEs in navigating the complex green industry and its IP protection in Latin America. 

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