Exeter scientists warn COP30 decisions could reshape life in Devon

Exeter’s climate scientists have played a major role at this year’s COP30 summit in Belem, Brazil and the outcomes could have real consequences for local people, from energy bills and transport policy to jobs, flooding risk and the city’s long-term climate goals.

Researchers from the University of Exeter were central to several major reports launched at the summit, including the Global Carbon Budget and the Global Tipping Points Report. 

They also worked with international leaders on issues ranging from tackling climate misinformation to protecting rainforests. 

Their message, however, is that global progress remains too slow, a warning that carries significant implications for Devon.

Exeter is already recognised as an area vulnerable to flooding, with the River Exe and surrounding waterways placing parts of the city at risk during periods of extreme rainfall. 

READ NEXT: Exeter businesses react to Budget 2025 as rising costs spark concern

Scientists say this risk will grow without stronger global measures to reduce emissions. Dr James Dyke, Assistant Director of the Global Systems Institute, said emissions hit a record high in 2024 despite years of warnings, adding that COP30 has still not delivered the acceleration needed on phasing out fossil fuels. 

For local families and businesses, this could mean more extreme weather events, greater strain on insurance costs and further demand on the region’s flood defences.

Climate action at COP30 also matters for household bills. If governments fail to commit to the rapid expansion of clean energy, residents could see continued volatility in gas prices, delays in insulation schemes and higher costs for heating older homes. 

Dr Steve Smith noted that although the rate of emissions growth has slowed, strong policy decisions this decade are essential to prevent future price shocks and to support communities through the cost-of-living pressures that remain acute.

The summit also has implications for Exeter’s economy. The city has positioned itself as a growing hub for green jobs, climate research and low-carbon innovation, and the University of Exeter’s leadership at COP30 strengthens opportunities for funding, skills and partnerships. 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Stuart Brocklehurst said Exeter experts have been advising business leaders and policymakers about practical solutions, highlighting how research carried out in the city can shape international decision-making. 

For students and local workers, this influence could help drive job creation in renewable energy, climate modelling, environmental consultancy and other emerging sectors.

Transport remains one of Exeter’s biggest sources of emissions, and COP30 discussions on fossil fuel reduction could affect national decisions on electric vehicle investment, fuel taxation and public transport funding. 

Local campaigners warn that any delay in global action is likely to slow progress on Exeter’s own net-zero 2030 target, which already requires major changes to how people travel in and around the city.

The work of Exeter researchers studying the Amazon also gives the summit local relevance. Damage to the rainforest could contribute to harsher weather patterns in the UK, including hotter summers and more intense rainfall in the South West. 

Exeter alumnus James Lewis, now at Rainforest Trust, said the world cannot meet its nature recovery pledges without supporting Indigenous leadership, emphasising how global forest protection influences future conditions even in regions far from the tropics.

Alongside the scientific contributions, Exeter’s arts and culture were represented at COP30 through We Are The Possible, a creative climate project developed in the city. 

Professor Richard Betts, co-founder, performed a poem at the summit, an unusual moment that placed Exeter’s cultural response to climate change on the international stage.

Overall, Exeter’s experts may have helped shape global discussions, but they return with a clear warning that the pace of action remains insufficient. 

For local residents, the outcomes of COP30 may determine how quickly energy bills stabilise, how resilient the city becomes to flooding, how many low-carbon jobs emerge and whether Exeter can meet its 2030 climate ambitions. 

The question now is whether global leaders will act fast enough to protect communities like Exeter from the consequences of a warming world.