Dozens of world leaders gathered on Thursday and Friday in Belém, Brazil, for a high-level meeting ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), to discuss urgent measures aimed at curbing global warming.
European leaders in attendance included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alongside top officials from the European Union and the United Nations.
The Brazilian government hopes the summit will inject momentum into the upcoming two-week COP30 conference, which officially begins on Monday, drawing tens of thousands of participants from about 200 countries.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the host of the meeting, described this year’s conference as the “COP of Truth,” emphasising that it must deliver concrete and measurable results.
“The world can no longer afford empty promises. This COP must be the COP of truth — one that produces tangible results for the planet and for people,” Lula stated.
The discussions are taking place amid complex global challenges, including wars, economic uncertainty, and growing fiscal strain in many major economies.
In contrast to previous years, the United States under President Donald Trump has opted not to send a high-level delegation to COP30, as the administration continues to pursue a fossil fuel-friendly agenda, according to a White House statement.
On Thursday, participating leaders are expected to launch a multibillion-dollar fund dedicated to protecting tropical forests, which serve as vital “green lungs” for the planet.
Despite earlier pledges to halt deforestation by 2030, progress has been slow. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) reports that nearly seven million hectares of primary forest were lost in 2024 alone.
The summit is also expected to issue a joint call to action on forest fire management, as well as promote Brazil’s sustainable fuels initiative, which aims to quadruple production and usage by 2035.
A joint declaration addressing hunger, poverty, and climate protection will be adopted at the close of the meeting, setting the tone for the COP30 negotiations.
