Global Tensions Rise as COP30 Opens in Brazil
World leaders have gathered in Belem, Brazil, for the COP30 climate summit, ten years after the Paris Agreement.
The talks open amid deepening political divisions, with United States President Donald Trump under fire for rejecting climate science and refusing to attend.
His absence has drawn criticism from several Latin American leaders, while Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva warned that misinformation and denialism are threatening future generations.
United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged that international unity on climate action has weakened but reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to environmental goals.
Environmental groups, including the World Wide Fund for Nature, have urged countries to use COP30 to bridge the widening gaps in emissions reduction, adaptation, and finance. They are pressing governments to agree on a timeline for phasing out fossil fuels, expanding renewable energy, and increasing support for vulnerable nations.
The UK has faced backlash after withdrawing from Brazil’s $125 billion rainforest protection fund, despite its previous leadership on deforestation. Prince William has called for renewed cooperation, stressing the importance of optimism and urgency.
With worsening storms, heatwaves and floods across the globe, COP30 is seen as a critical moment for leaders to translate promises into action and secure a sustainable future.
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