COP30 Kicks Off with Doubts Over Consensus on Climate Action

The COP30 climate summit kicked off on November 10, 2025, in Belem, Brazil, with uncertainty surrounding the agenda and the prospects of a final agreement. With over 190 countries participating, it was unclear what exactly they would focus on during the two-week summit.

One key issue is the 2023 pledge to wean off polluting energy sources and the demand for financing to make that happen. However, fractious global politics and the US's efforts to obstruct the transition away from fossil fuels have cast doubt on whether countries can negotiate a binding agreement.

Some, including Brazil, have suggested that countries focus on smaller, consensus-driven efforts rather than lofty promises that often go unfulfilled. COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago noted the rising importance of China in the talks, as the US plans to exit the Paris Agreement in January 2026 and the EU struggles to maintain its climate ambition amid energy security concerns.

Alongside the government representatives, Indigenous leaders have arrived in Belem, demanding a greater say in how their territories are managed as climate change escalates and industries like mining, logging, and oil drilling push deeper into forests. They are calling for concrete action, not just promises, to protect their communities from the impacts of climate change.

As the summit begins, scientists have also sounded the alarm over the rapid destabilization of the world's glaciers, ice sheets, and other frozen spaces, urging COP30 delegates to prioritize climate security and stability over short-term national interests.