Leaders gather in Belem, Brazil, ahead of COP30 to reaffirm global climate goals but the absence of the United States casts a shadow over the talks.
Dozens of world leaders are converging on the heart of the Brazilian Amazon this Thursday, for a high-stakes climate summit, a reminder that the fight against global warming remains urgent, even as US remains absent.
More than 50 heads of state and government are attending the two-day meeting in Belem, a bustling rainforest city preparing to host next week’s UN COP30 climate conference. But one powerful seat will be empty: the United States, which has chosen not to send a representative.
Former President Donald Trump dismissed climate science as a “con job,” and Washington’s absence underscores a deep divide in global climate leadership.
While the UK’s Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron are among attendees, other heavyweight economies such as China and India have opted to send deputies or climate ministers instead.
Choosing Belem
Choosing Belem, a city of 1.4 million people, many of whom live in favelas has stirred controversy. Infrastructure challenges and soaring hotel prices have made it tough for smaller delegations and NGOs to attend.
Despite last-minute construction at the venue, locals like Karol Farias, a 34-year-old makeup artist, see the summit as an opportunity:
“The COP is bringing Belem the recognition it deserves,” she told AFP.
Authorities have rushed to renovate buildings and prepare cruise ship cabins to house low-income country delegates a creative response to limited accommodation.
Battle for Climate Action
Brazil isn’t aiming for a breakthrough deal at COP30 but hopes to send a strong signal that the world still believes in climate action amid wars, budget crises, and a growing backlash against green policies.
The absence of the US, coupled with Brazil’s own approval of new oil drilling near the Amazon River, has sparked criticism from environmental advocates.
Even more worrying, UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently admitted that the world is likely to miss its goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, a key target set in the Paris Agreement.
Call for Accountability, Not More Promises
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says the summit is not about new promises but about action.
“Enough talking, now we have to implement what we’ve already discussed,” Lula said this week.
Brazil is pushing for a global fund that rewards rainforest nations for conservation and emphasizes climate adaptation, helping vulnerable countries prepare for rising seas, droughts, and storms.
For Evans Njewa of Malawi, who chairs the Least Developed Countries bloc, this support isn’t charity but necessity:
“Developing countries need clear plans to scale climate finance to $1.3 trillion annually by 2035.”
Meanwhile, small island nations warn that current pledges could lead to 2.5°C warming by the century’s end a death sentence for many coastal communities.
“We can’t adapt our way out of a two-degree world,” said Ilana Seid of Palau, chair of the Alliance of Small Island States.
Next Steps
As leaders debate in Belem, pressure mounts for a roadmap to phase down fossil fuels and deliver on old promises. Lula admits it’s a tough conversation but insists it’s one Brazil is ready to lead.
Environmental activists like Greenpeace’s Carolina Pasquali say the summit must deliver a clear message to COP30 negotiators:
“The world needs ambition and action, not excuses.”
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