COP30 Climate Summit Begins Without U.S. Delegation

The pivotal United Nations Climate Summit, known as COP30, has kicked off in Belem, Brazil, with world leaders arriving for the two-day gathering. However, the notable absence of a United States delegation has raised concerns among climate advocates that this could "derail" momentum behind new emissions and financing commitments.

The lack of a U.S. presence is particularly concerning as China has sent its deputy prime minister, raising fears over whether the world's two largest emitters will shape any meaningful outcomes. Activists have stepped in to fill the void left by the U.S., with hundreds of representatives from organizations like Greenpeace and the Center for Biological Diversity on the ground to ensure international leaders do not allow "a bully like Trump to derail decades of negotiations."