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The biggest climate meeting of the year opened in Brazil on Monday aiming to bring countries together, amid a difficult global backdrop of backlash to climate policies in Europe and an absent United States.
Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva warned of those who “sow hatred, spread fear, and attack institutions, science, and universities”.
“It is time to impose a new defeat on denialists,” he told countries gathered for COP30 in the Amazonian city of Belem.
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It was a veiled attack on the likes of US President Donald Trump, who calls climate change a “hoax”, and emboldened populist parties in Europe and the UK that are attacking climate policies and questioning science.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell told negotiators on Monday: “Your job is to fight this climate crisis together.”
Outwardly, countries were unphased that the US president is skipping the talks on climate change – despite being the largest historical emitter.
After all, the other 194 countries are still signed up, Brazil pointed out yesterday.
Simon Stiell, United Nations climate chief, left, speaks with Andre Correa do Lago, COP30 president. Pic: AP
But Mr Trump’s shadow still hangs over the summit, and some diplomats who want more action on fossil fuels privately expressed nervousness that his team could still stand in the way.
Last month, he successfully sank a proposed shipping levy after threatening sanctions and visa restrictions on those who backed it.
Germany’s environment state…
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