What is the COP30 climate summit?

The COP30 climate summit is an upcoming United Nations conference on climate change that will be held in Belém, Brazil.

Why is business attendance expected to be lower at COP30?

Business attendance at COP30 is expected to be lower due to both logistical constraints of the Belém location and the political pressure on climate action since the election of former US President Donald Trump.

How are companies approaching sustainability at COP30?

Companies are now focusing more on energy security and affordability, rather than sustainability alone, as the global climate action consensus has fractured in recent years.

Home / Environment / COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil Sees Muted Business Attendance

COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil Sees Muted Business Attendance

10 Nov

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Summary

Business attendance at COP30 in Brazil expected to be much lower than past years
Multinational companies sending sustainability officers, not top executives
Discussions focus on energy security and affordability, not just sustainability

COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil Sees Muted Business Attendance

As of November 10th, 2025, the upcoming UN COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil is expected to see a much narrower business attendance compared to past years. The event is anticipated to be dominated by large Brazilian groups and multinational companies with operations in Latin America, rather than a strong presence of top overseas executives.

This muted turnout is attributed to both the logistical challenges of the Belém location, situated at the gateway to the Amazon, as well as the political pressure on climate action since the election of former US President Donald Trump in 2016. Many international companies are sending their chief sustainability officers or regional heads to the pre-COP events in São Paulo, rather than their chief executives.