American Business Climate Leadership at COP30: Why US Companies Must Show Up in Brazil

As I prepare to travel to Belém, Brazil, for COP30 as part of the American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) delegation, I’m reminded of how far we’ve come—and how essential it is that we continue to show up. As businesses prepare for COP30 Brazil, climate finance and private sector climate action will take center stage in determining our collective future.

I often describe myself as a climate optimist. When I began my career as a climate activist more than a decade ago, the prospects were bleak. Scientists and policymakers were still grappling with scenarios of runaway warming, and the pathways to stabilize the climate seemed distant and uncertain.

Today, through decades of advocacy, innovation, and collective action, the worst-case futures have been pushed further out of reach. The latest UN report makes it clear: humanity has managed to avoid some of the most catastrophic climate outcomes once considered inevitable.

That progress didn’t happen by accident. It came through determination—by individuals, communities, and businesses that refused to accept inaction as an option.

Yet the same report is also a sobering reminder: we have already surpassed 1.5°C of warming, and the next decade will define whether we can maintain a livable, equitable, and resilient planet. Optimism must now be matched with urgency.

Why the American Sustainable Business Network Goes to COP

For ASBN, attending COP30 is about more than just showing up—it’s about ensuring that American businesses have a seat at the global table where climate ambition is being translated into action. The negotiations, side events, and bilateral meetings that happen at COP are not abstract. They shape the policies, markets, and finance structures that will define the next generation of climate solutions.

ASBN’s delegation represents the growing coalition of American companies that see climate action not as a cost, but as a catalyst for innovation, competitiveness, and shared prosperity. From carbon markets and Article 6 implementation to sustainable business practices, COP30 represents a critical opportunity for American climate leadership. By participating directly in these conversations, we demonstrate that American leadership extends beyond government—to the private sector, entrepreneurs, and mission-driven organizations that are building the clean economy from the ground up. This year, we are excited to be joined by the Carbon Business Council and Wisconsin Environmental Initiative.

Private Sector Leadership: Investing in a Better Future

I see climate leadership in the American private sector taking shape in two powerful ways.

First, businesses are not only reducing their own emissions—they are investing in catalytic projects and technologies that push the boundaries of what’s possible. From regenerative agriculture and renewable energy deployment to carbon removal, nature-based solutions, and community-driven adaptation projects, American companies are helping finance the transition to a low-carbon future here and abroad.

These investments aren’t charity; they are signals of confidence in a better world. Each dollar invested reflects leadership, long-term thinking, and belief in the value of a stable climate as the foundation of all economic prosperity.

This form of climate finance—driven by purpose and reinforced by accountability—is helping to bridge the global gap between ambition and implementation. When American businesses commit to funding high-integrity climate projects around the world, they’re not only reducing emissions but also supporting communities, ecosystems, and local economies. That is the kind of leadership the world needs to see more of at COP30.

Policy Advocacy at Home: Building a Foundation for Global Action

Second, American businesses are showing up not just with their balance sheets, but with their voices. Across the country, ASBN members are advocating for strong climate policies that align economic success with environmental stewardship.

Whether it’s championing carbon pricing, supporting renewable energy standards, or advancing sustainable agriculture and circular-economy practices, these companies are proving that good policy and good business go hand in hand.

This domestic leadership is inseparable from international credibility. When U.S. companies advocate for ambitious climate policy at home, it strengthens our position abroad. It tells the world that the American private sector is not waiting for permission to lead—it’s already doing the work.

A Decade of Progress—and a Challenge Ahead

I’m proud to be part of a network that understands the scale of this challenge but refuses to succumb to pessimism. The path to 1.5°C may be narrowing, but it has not closed. Each year, the actions of forward-thinking companies, innovative entrepreneurs, and engaged policymakers widen that path just a little more.

At COP30, ASBN’s delegation will be there to listen, learn, collaborate, and share what responsible, purpose-driven American business leadership looks like. We’ll connect with partners from around the world, seek alignment on Article 6 mechanisms, explore opportunities for catalytic finance, and amplify the message that solving the climate crisis requires both global cooperation and domestic resolve.

I believe that optimism, when paired with action, is one of the most powerful forces for change. As we head into COP30, that’s the spirit ASBN brings to the table: a belief that business can be a driver of progress, that collaboration can overcome division, and that the future we choose is still within reach.