Belém, Brazil / PNN /
World leaders gathered Thursday in the Amazonian city of Belém in an effort to renew global commitments to combating climate change, despite the absence of the United States and growing doubts about unfulfilled environmental promises.
Around 50 heads of state and government are attending the two-day summit ahead of next week’s UN Climate Conference (COP30) negotiations. While most nations are represented, Washington chose not to send an official delegation, as U.S. President Donald Trump again dismissed climate science as “a massive hoax.”
Among the expected attendees are UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, while major countries such as China and India are represented at the deputy minister or environment minister level.
The choice of Belém — a city of 1.4 million where nearly half the population lives in poverty — has sparked debate due to its weak infrastructure and soaring hotel prices, which have made participation difficult for smaller delegations and NGOs.
Despite construction work continuing up to the last minute, many locals expressed pride in hosting the event.
“The climate summit gave Belém the recognition it deserves,” said Carol Farias, 34, a local beautician shopping at the newly renovated Ver-o-Peso Market.
Brazil is not seeking to broker a major climate accord during COP30 but rather to signal that the world remains committed to tackling the climate crisis despite wars, political tensions, and economic strain.
The absence of the United States casts a shadow over the summit, as does Brazil’s recent decision to allow oil exploration near the mouth of the Amazon River, which has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world is off track to meet the Paris Agreement’s 2015 goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
In response to logistical concerns, Brazil’s government announced it would provide three cruise ships to accommodate delegations from low-income nations free of charge.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the summit’s main aim is to hold countries accountable for past commitments rather than elicit new promises.
“Enough talk — it’s time to deliver on what we already agreed,” Lula said earlier this week.
Brazil is pushing for the creation of a global fund to reward tropical nations that protect their rainforests, emphasizing adaptation financing as a key demand from developing countries facing rising sea levels and worsening natural disasters.
“This isn’t charity — it’s an urgent necessity,” said Evans Ngyowe, a diplomat from Malawi and chair of the Least Developed Countries Group.
The bloc is calling for a clear roadmap to boost climate financing to $1.3 trillion annually by 2035, reflecting the scale of developing nations’ needs.
Environmental activists say the summit must pave the way for more ambitious commitments.
“Leaders must give COP30 a strong and ambitious mandate to address urgent issues,” said Carolina Pasquali, executive director of Greenpeace Brazil, speaking aboard the Rainbow Warrior docked in Belém’s port.
Despite some progress, the world remains far from its climate targets. Current projections suggest global temperatures could rise by 2.5°C by the end of the century even if existing pledges are fully implemented.
“For many of our countries, a world beyond two degrees is simply unlivable,” said Ilana Said, a diplomat from Palau and chair of the Alliance of Small Island States.
Lula confirmed that Brazil plans to propose a roadmap to reduce fossil fuel use, acknowledging that “this will be a difficult but necessary conversation.”
