Brazil: As the world marks ten years since the historic Paris Agreement, global leaders are converging in Belém, Brazil, ahead of the official opening of COP30. With 2024 recording the highest global temperatures in modern history exceeding 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels the stakes at this climate summit could not be higher.
The high-level summit of heads of state took place on November 6-7, just days before COP30 formally begins on November 10. Thousands of delegates, including civil society representatives, scientists, NGO officials, young activists, and business leaders, will occupy the city for nearly two weeks, coordinating international climate action. To manage the logistical challenge, the summit of global leaders was scheduled in advance.
Around 140 delegations are expected, with approximately 30 heads of state in attendance, a noticeably smaller figure compared to previous COPs. Notably, the United States and China the world’s two largest emitters will not send their heads of state, though China will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Ding Xuexiang. African representation includes leaders such as Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou N’Guesso of the Republic of Congo, and the President of the African Development Bank Group. The United Kingdom is represented by Prince William, acting on behalf of King Charles III, alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer. European heavyweights Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, and Ursula von der Leyen have also crossed the Atlantic to join the discussions. The Holy See sends a ten-member delegation led by Cardinal Pietro Parolin and assisted by Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro.
COP30 will serve as a milestone to evaluate a decade of climate action since the Paris Agreement of 2015, where 196 nations pledged to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Nations are expected to review past achievements and present updated climate commitments through 2035. These nationally determined contributions (NDCs) must be submitted every five years and each iteration is required to be more ambitious. However, with 2024 setting a new temperature record, the challenge of meeting Paris targets has grown even more daunting.
Global momentum on climate action is under strain. François Gemenne, an environmental geopolitics specialist at HEC Paris, notes that “we live in a world of increasing geopolitical fragmentation, where populist governments, particularly in the United States, are retreating from climate commitments.” The U.S. is set to formally withdraw from the Paris Agreement again in January 2026, marking the second decade of disengagement under Donald Trump. Ongoing conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, have also dampened climate ambitions, even among European Union countries, which historically championed international climate initiatives.
Despite these challenges, COP30 will highlight some successes over the past decade. International cooperation has reduced projected global warming from 3.9°C to 2.6°C by the century’s end, according to the UN Environment Programme. Investments in low-carbon energy have overtaken fossil fuel spending since 2016, reversing the trends seen at the time the Paris Agreement was signed.
Financing remains a critical concern, particularly for developing nations. COP29 in Baku pledged $300 billion annually by 2035 to support energy transitions and climate adaptation in the Global South, but these promises were widely criticized as insufficient. Developing countries emphasize that the majority of historical greenhouse gas emissions nearly 80% between 1850 and 2021 originated from G20 nations, while the least developed countries contributed just 4%. The Loss and Damage Response Fund, created at COP28 in Dubai to support nations affected by climate disasters, will also be a focus, though mobilizing resources remains difficult due to lack of financial return.
The choice of Belém as the COP30 host city is symbolic and strategic. Located at the edge of the Amazon rainforest, the city underscores the urgency of tackling deforestation. Among the expected initiatives is the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Fund, a £100 billion investment vehicle aimed at incentivizing global forest conservation. For the duration of COP30, Belém will temporarily function as Brazil’s administrative capital, with the country’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches operating from the state of Pará.
COP30 also aims to address a ‘just transition’ to a low-carbon society. As fossil fuel-dependent sectors decline, measures will be discussed to protect vulnerable communities and reduce social inequities. “Fairness is not only a moral imperative but essential for effective climate policy,” Gemenne emphasizes. Policies perceived as unjust risk public rejection, highlighting the need to integrate social equity into climate strategies.
As COP30 unfolds in the heart of the Amazon, global attention will focus on whether nations can reaffirm their climate commitments, secure financing for vulnerable countries, and balance environmental and social priorities. The summit represents both a critical test of international cooperation and a potential turning point for climate action in an increasingly warming world.