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Brazil’s president for the upcoming UN COP30 conference, Andre Correa do Lago, has expressed his ambition for this year’s climate talks to usher in a new era of global climate progress. With COP30 set to take place in Belem, Brazil, this November, it marks a decade since the Paris Agreement was signed, yet follows a period of significant geopolitical challenges, including the US’s second withdrawal from the accord.
Correa do Lago, a seasoned climate diplomat, acknowledged the immense obstacles facing the world, with escalating geopolitical tensions and record-high global temperatures. In his second open letter to nearly 200 nations due to attend COP30, he urged the international community to act with urgency in addressing climate change. He emphasised that COP30 has the potential to serve as a critical turning point in the global transition toward sustainable and inclusive prosperity.
The conference comes at a time when major economies are still finalising their climate commitments, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which were due earlier this year but are now expected to be submitted before the COP30 talks. NDCs are reviewed and updated every five years, but many countries, including large greenhouse gas emitters like China and the European Union, have been delayed in presenting their plans for 2035.
Correa do Lago remained optimistic, noting the positive atmosphere in preparatory meetings, such as the ministerial gathering in Copenhagen. He believes many countries will present their updated NDCs by September. Ana Toni, CEO of the COP, also highlighted the shift toward including more aspects of national economies in these commitments.
In the wake of the US’s climate withdrawal under former President Trump, attention has shifted to other major carbon emitters. China, under President Xi Jinping, reaffirmed its commitment to climate action, pledging to unveil its 2035 climate plans covering all greenhouse gases, not just carbon dioxide. Meanwhile, the European Commission has proposed a 90 percent reduction in emissions by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, though some member states have contested the proposal.
Correa do Lago stressed that COP30 should go beyond formal negotiations, aiming to shift humanity’s relationship with the planet and address climate challenges with modern strategies informed by advances in science and technology.
