The Heat Is On

COP30 in Belém, which ended over the weekend, sought to close the gap between climate pledges and real-world investment following news the world will miss limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But deep divisions among nearly 200 participating countries – and an absent U.S. – prevented concrete progress, leaving many to question the ongoing efficacy of a formal United Nations-led process. 

Although the final agreement contained no roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels, as a growing coalition of countries had hoped for, 80 countries pledged to begin that work. Action from governors, mayors and business leaders both within and outside the formal negotiations offered another bright spot during the two-week event.

But, emblematic of the challenges in attracting public financing, only six countries pledged $58.5 million to the Adaptation Fund – for actions like building flood barriers and protecting vulnerable nations’ coastlines – a fraction of the UN's estimated $310 billion annual need. 

Host Brazil launched the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, a multibillion-dollar fund paying countries to protect forests, which secured $6.7 billion, along with commitments to triple adaptation finance by 2035, but fell short of its $25 billion goal.

Next year’s COP in Turkey will face many of the same challenges with mounting urgency.

A new wave of creator journalists is transforming how news reaches the public. These are independent reporters and analysts who publish under their own name—through newsletters, podcasts or social platforms—and build direct, topic-driven audiences outside traditional newsrooms. According to Muck Rack's 2025 State of Creator Journalism report, one in three journalists now work independently, many with loyal communities they’ve cultivated over years. 

As creator journalism rises across sectors, earned media opportunities expand, but success requires adapting to these independent voices and their unique editorial approaches. Our colleagues at Health Media Insights have outlined a few essential tactics for engaging creator journalists:

• Segment your media strategy. Traditional outlets remain vital for credibility and crisis response, but creator journalists excel at sustained storytelling and deep dives into complex topics. Their longer-form formats allow for nuanced exploration and repeated attention to key issues.

• Prioritize relevance and resources. Creators are more likely to respond to PR professionals, yet 72% say most pitches miss the mark. They seek access to subject-matter experts, original data and tailored pitches closely aligned with their coverage areas.

• Adapt to independent formats. Podcasts, livestreams and social-first content require conversational fluency and comfort with extended dialogue, so spokespeople should be prepared for these formats.

Subscribe to Health Media Insights by emailing the team at health@fgsglobal.com.

The philanthropic sector has faced heightened policymaker scrutiny and regulatory changes this year. Individuals and organizations are now left figuring out how to navigate recent actions while anticipating future developments.  

FGS Global's new memo outlines the major legislative changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) that everyday givers, high-net-worth individuals, foundations and nonprofits will now need to navigate – as well as opportunities to influence the implementation of these and other proposals affecting the sector moving forward.  

Key takeaways for consideration in the months ahead: 

• Implementation of new tax code provisions: The OBBBA institutes major changes to the U.S. tax code, affecting the ways in which individuals and entities may approach their charitable giving and tax-exempt organizations operate. The Treasury Department’s 2025-2026 Priority Guidance Plan identifies several OBBBA provisions and other projects related to the sector that will be implemented before June 2026. 

• Ongoing policy debate: Lawmakers are considering further legislative actions to advance priorities for and increase oversight of the sector as part of a potential second budget reconciliation bill or as standalone legislation. 

• Continued scrutiny: The tax-exempt sector remains under close review, with several open congressional and administration investigations and additional oversight efforts likely in the future. 

• Opportunities for influence: Amidst these potential changes, sector entities and advocates should remain prepared to monitor and potentially respond to legislative proposals or oversight investigations that might impact their operations.