By Marcus Moloko
This week, the world’s attention turns to Belém, Brazil, where COP30, the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, kicks off amid high stakes and heated debate.
Running from 10 – 21 November, the summit gathers leaders from over 190 countries to assess progress since the Paris Agreement and chart a path forward for global climate action.
Why Belém?
On the edge of the Amazon rainforest, Belém is a symbolic choice, and Brazil hopes the location will spotlight the Amazon’s role in absorbing greenhouse gases.
Who’s attending, and who’s not
Confirmed attendees include Prince William, representing the UK monarchy, and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who aims to reassert the UK’s climate leadership.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will host a leaders’ meeting at what is expected to be the most consequential climate gathering since the 2015 Paris Agreement, and it comes at a defining moment as nations worldwide strive to keep global warming under 1.5°C.
The most glaring absence is that of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has refused to send any high-level officials.
Trump recently called climate change a “con job” at the UN General Assembly and has twice attempted to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. His stance has drawn sharp criticism from Latin American leaders and raised concerns about the U.S. undermining global efforts.
What’s at stake
The urgency is real. Last year saw record-breaking temperatures, wildfires in Brazil, and floods in Valencia, with global emissions still rising. Two-thirds of countries missed a September deadline to update their climate plans, threatening the goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C.
Despite this, the UN reports that new plans are more ambitious and could lead to a clear fall in emissions, thanks in part to the rapid growth of solar and wind energy, which now outperform coal in electricity generation.
Controversies to watch
Trump’s boycott and its ripple effects on global negotiations, Brazil’s oil drilling expansion, including recent approvals near the Amazon, protests demanding stronger protections and climate justice.
As COP30 unfolds, the world watches not just for promises, but for proof that leaders are ready to act.
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