World Leaders Gather in Belém to Reaffirm Climate Action Ahead of COP30

World leaders are convening in Belém this week in an effort to reaffirm global commitment to tackling climate change ahead of the COP30 negotiations. Roughly 50 heads of state and government are expected to attend the two-day summit in the Brazilian Amazon, which seeks to show that climate action remains a priority despite fractured promises and notable absences.

Logistical strains in the Amazon

The choice of Belém — a city of about 1.4 million people, roughly half of whom live in working-class neighbourhoods often described as favelas — has been controversial because of limited infrastructure. Sky-high hotel rates have constrained participation by small delegations and non-governmental organisations, prompting organisers to secure external funding to offer three free cabins on cruise ships for low-income delegations.

Authorities accelerated renovations and new construction for the summit, but with less than 24 hours to the opening, media teams and delegation scouts still found work underway at parts of the COP venue. Local residents, however, have welcomed the international attention: "The COP is bringing Belém the recognition it deserves," said Karol Farias, a 34-year-old makeup artist visiting the refurbished Ver-o-Peso market.

Political backdrop and participation

Nearly every nation is represented, but the United States is sending no senior officials after President Donald Trump described climate science as a "con job." Major economies such as China and India are sending deputies or climate ministers, while leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected in person.

Brazil’s recent approval of oil drilling near the mouth of the Amazon River and the broader absence of ambitious new pledges ahead of COP30 cast a shadow over the talks. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels will be missed unless action is stepped up.

Finance, accountability and adaptation

Rather than pursuing a single big deal, Brazil is framing the summit as an accountability moment and a platform to advance concrete initiatives. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva urged action: "Enough talking, now we have to implement what we've already discussed." The government is promoting a proposed global fund to reward tropical countries for protecting rainforests and is emphasising adaptation finance for countries vulnerable to rising seas and extreme weather.

Low-income nations and the Least Developed Countries bloc demand clear plans to scale climate finance dramatically — an estimated need of about $1.3 trillion per year in the developing world by 2035. "This is not a charity, but a necessity," said Evans Njewa, chair of the LDC bloc.

From Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior, Carolina Pasquali, executive director of Greenpeace Brazil, urged leaders in Belém to "deliver a clear mandate to the COP to be ambitious and to close the gap and to address the issues that are burning."

Outlook

Even if existing commitments were fully enacted, current modelling still points to global warming of roughly 2.5°C by the end of the century — a trajectory that many vulnerable nations say they cannot adapt to. Small island states and other frontline countries are pressing for stronger cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and more decisive action on fossil fuels. President Lula has said Brazil will "propose a roadmap for reducing fossil fuels," while acknowledging the difficulty of these discussions.

The summit in Belém is likely to focus on practical measures: boosting adaptation finance, advancing mechanisms to reward forest protection, and restoring momentum ahead of COP30. Whether it can translate rhetoric into sufficient, enforceable commitments remains the central question for delegates and observers alike.