COP30 opens in Brazil with urgent climate calls

World leaders, scientists and activists convened in Belém, Brazil, for the COP30 climate summit, gathering more than 190 countries to press for accelerated action on global heating. The choice of the Amazon’s edge as host highlighted the rainforest’s key role in climate stability, while the conference aims to reinvigorate commitments under the Paris Agreement, secure steeper emissions cuts and mobilize greater climate finance for vulnerable nations.

United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres delivered a stark address, warning that the planet is “on the brink of climate collapse” and condemning continued reliance on fossil fuels as “a betrayal of future generations.” He urged major economies to pledge phase‑outs of coal, oil and gas by 2040 and to fulfill financial promises to developing countries, framing the missed 1.5°C target as a “moral failure and deadly negligence.” Guterres pressed for immediate, large‑scale measures to curb emissions and protect vulnerable populations already experiencing climate‑driven impacts.

Host President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pledged stronger Amazon protection, announcing steps to rein in illegal deforestation and restore degraded lands while calling on wealthy nations to meet finance commitments. Lula framed climate justice as financial justice, insisting developing countries cannot be expected to shoulder conservation and adaptation without adequate support. His remarks also condemned misinformation and denialism as threats to collective survival.

Other leaders affirmed national ambitions and cooperation. The United States reiterated a target of halving emissions by 2030 and promised additional adaptation funding. China called for enhanced sharing of green technologies and international cooperation, while the European Union urged an end to fossil fuel subsidies and faster implementation of low‑carbon policies. Representatives from African and island nations pressed for concrete mechanisms, with calls for an equitable, accessible global loss‑and‑damage fund and urgent support for communities facing sea‑level rise and extreme weather.

Negotiations will centre on mobilizing the trillions of dollars needed for a global green transition, balancing emissions reductions with development needs, and translating pledges into verifiable, funded action. Key fault lines include timelines for fossil fuel phase‑outs, delivery of promised climate finance, technology transfer, and the operationalization of loss‑and‑damage mechanisms.