By Georgina Rannard, Climate and science reporter, Belém, Brazil
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva opened the UN climate summit in Belém by calling on the world to confront climate denial and push back against a tide of misinformation that undermines science and climate action. Speaking at COP30 on the edge of the Amazon, he said the conference should be one of truth and made pointed, if indirect, references to US leaders who dismiss climate science.
“COP30 will be the COP of truth,” Lula said, adding that those who “control the algorithms, sow hatred and spread fear” must be defeated. His remarks underlined growing frustration among many nations at what they see as a deliberate campaign to discredit evidence and stall progress.
The summit opened in an unusual venue: a heavily air-conditioned former aerodrome. Delegates arrived from around the world to find meeting rooms and temporary accommodation ranging from shipping containers to cruise ships moored on the river. Indigenous members of the Guajajara community performed a traditional welcome.
The talks are taking place against a tense political backdrop. The United States sent no senior officials and its administration has signalled strong backing for fossil fuels — cancelling more than $13bn in renewable energy funding and moving to open additional areas to oil and gas exploration. Some delegates worry Washington may use its influence to frustrate negotiations, recalling earlier environmental talks that were weakened by what participants described as “bully-boy tactics.”
UN climate chief Simon Stiell urged countries to stop squabbling, pointing to a decade of progress in cutting emissions while warning that climate disasters are already shaving double-digit percentages off some economies. He said the urgency of action must outweigh geopolitical disputes.
As president of the COP, Brazil is pushing several priorities: accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels, securing finance for vulnerable developing countries, and stepping up protection of nature. Lula’s flagship proposal is the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), an initiative aiming to raise $125bn to safeguard tropical forests worldwide. Fundraising has been slow: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced at the eleventh hour that the UK would not commit public money immediately, though UK climate envoy Rachel Kyte told reporters the fund is a strong idea and that the UK intends to invest later.
After extended negotiations, nations agreed an agenda that will examine whether the goal of limiting warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels remains viable — a target strongly backed by the Alliance of Small Island States and other frontline groups. Recent UN statements have acknowledged that a temporary overshoot of 1.5C may be unavoidable. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that failing to hold warming to 1.5C would be “a moral failure and deadly negligence.”
Additional reporting by Esme Stallard
