Greentarget’s Dernae Rowe moderated a panel on AI and energy at COP30 in Brazil, where she also gleaned some important lessons for professional services firms advising energy firms in 2026 and beyond.  

This past November, the 30^th session of the UN Climate Conference (COP30) convened in Belém, Brazil. Branded the “COP of Implementation,” it was intended to mark a shift from ambition to action after years of pledges outpacing results. 

Yet by summit’s end, the prevailing sentiment was that progress remains uneven and elusive. The most prominent new initiatives were voluntary, and negotiators did not reach a consensus. Still, the conference saw some notable developments, including a new fund for tropical forest conservation and the modest ‘Belém political package,’ though key ambitions will require continued progress in future negotiations. 

That doesn’t mean COP30 wasn’t worth paying attention to. While it may not have delivered sweeping policy outcomes, it did offer some important intel for lawyers and consultants advising energy companies in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.   

Here are three takeaways. 

Cultivate a Consistent Point of View 

Climate leadership is now judged by execution, not just splashy announcements. 

Recent regulatory rollbacks and political volatility in the U.S. may tempt some companies into taking a more relaxed approach to climate strategy and sustainability. COP30 pushed back on that idea. Even its location was symbolic: After two consecutive conferences hosted by petrostates, this COP was held in Brazil, at the edge of the Amazon, described throughout the conference as “the lungs of the world.” 

Protests from Indigenous groups and civil society highlighted growing impatience with incrementalism and unfulfilled promises, and there was a clear sense that stakeholders—governments, communities, investors, and advocates alike—are done with vague pledges and backsliding. 

For energy companies and their advisors, the implication is that climate strategy must be durable. A point of view that shifts with each administration or market cycle is increasingly seen as a liability. Clear commitments, evidence of follow-through, and a strategy that can withstand political change will be rewarded. Broken promises, empty pledges, and backsliding will have reputational consequences, even if regulatory consequences are hazy.  

Breadth of Regulatory Coverage Is Necessary 

Don’t expect global regulatory alignment on climate issues any time soon. 

A lack of consensus is increasing fragmentation in how governments approach the energy transition, trade, and environmental disclosures. National policies on carbon markets, resilience planning, and emissions standards are moving forward, but unevenly and often in ways that reflect local political and economic priorities rather than shared global frameworks. The EU is advancing a centralized carbon pricing framework, for example, while the US is relying on state-level initiatives in the absence of a national carbon price. 

For energy companies operating across borders, this complicates compliance, investment, and transaction planning. That’s especially true in areas like critical minerals, supply-chain security, and clean-energy infrastructure. Emerging markets in the Global South are developing new clean energy deployment models, while Europe and other regions are tightening regulatory frameworks that shape how innovation occurs. Understanding how cutting-edge technologies and financing mechanisms interact across these environments is now essential. 

For professional service firms, this state of play reinforces the value of breadth. Clients need advisors who can see across jurisdictions, anticipate friction points, and structure strategies that are resilient to regulatory divergence. Legal and strategic advisory services are critical to managing bankability, allocating risk, and navigating cross-border complexity. 

There are also significant M&A implications. As energy-transition regulations tighten in many regions and scrutiny increases, energy, infrastructure, and industrial sectors face rising exposure to disputes. Firms that understand how regulatory fragmentation feeds into transaction risk will be better positioned to guide clients through the next phase of consolidation and investment. 

AI Optimism Abounds  

Given the mounting scrutiny around data centers and energy use, many expected AI to be treated primarily as a climate risk at COP30. Instead, the tone—particularly in the panel discussion I moderated—was more nuanced and, in some cases, optimistic. 

AI was framed as a tool for emissions reduction and efficiency, not just a source of concern. Applications such as energy management systems, climate risk modeling, and precision agriculture were widely discussed and broadly supported. There was particular interest in how AI could help farmers reduce fertilizer and water use, improve yields, and lower emissions—especially in regions most vulnerable to climate impacts. 

That optimism, however, came with conditions. Ethical deployment, strong data governance, and government and consumer support were repeatedly cited as prerequisites for scaling AI solutions responsibly.  

Advisors should monitor this emerging frontier. Clients will increasingly need guidance on how AI fits into climate strategy—legally, operationally, and reputationally. Understanding both the efficiencies that AI can unlock and the risks it introduces will be key.  

Climate Leadership Needs Strategic Communications 

As the energy and climate landscape grows more fragmented and contentious, clients need advisors who can interpret uncertainty, manage risk, and translate complexity into strategic action.  

Law firms and consultants that help energy clients navigate disputes, structure cross-border strategies, ensure compliance with a patchwork of evolving regulations, and operationalize climate commitments will define success in years to come—if they can effectively communicate their authority, expertise, and insights to differentiate themselves in an increasingly crowded marketplace.  

Want to shape the narratives and insights that will define the next era of energy? Contact us here.