The 30th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP 30) concluded on Friday, November 21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil, after two weeks of intense negotiations. The event brought together global leaders, youth representatives, academics, and activists to address the escalating crisis of climate change. Despite three decades of discussions, the world continues to grapple with the devastating impacts of a warming planet, including intensified hurricanes and environmental degradation. Two primary strategies—mitigation and adaptation—remain central to the climate response. Mitigation focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while adaptation involves implementing policies to cope with climate impacts. However, progress on both fronts has been limited, particularly in curbing emissions. At COP 30, 83 nations, including many Caribbean island states, called for an end to fossil fuel use. This demand, however, faced resistance from countries with strong fossil fuel economies, such as Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. The draft agreement, titled ‘Global Mutirão: Uniting humanity in a global mobilisation against climate change,’ notably omitted any reference to transitioning away from fossil fuels, a key outcome of COP 28. As negotiations extended into overtime, tensions flared over the inclusion of fossil fuel language in the final text. Small island nations, while advocating for stronger climate action, appeared willing to compromise for increased financial support to adapt to climate impacts. The final outcome of COP 30 remains uncertain, but the urgency of the climate crisis underscores the need for decisive global action.