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Lula calls for 'defeat' of climate denialism at COP30 opening
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva opened the UN's COP30 climate summit in Belém on Monday with a sharp rebuke of climate denialism, framing the talks as a battle against misinformation and political obstruction. His remarks, delivered to thousands of delegates in a repurposed aerodrome near the Amazon rainforest, targeted unnamed critics-including former U.S. President Donald Trump, who dismissed climate change as a "con job" in September.
"COP30 will be the COP of truth," Lula declared, condemning an era of "fake news, misrepresentation, and rejection of scientific evidence." Without directly naming Trump, he accused unnamed actors of "controlling algorithms, sowing hatred, and spreading fear," urging delegates to "inflict a new defeat on the deniers."
U.S. absence looms over fraught negotiations
The summit begins under strained geopolitical conditions, with the United States-the world's largest economy-sending no senior officials. Since taking office in January, Trump's administration has rolled back over $13 billion in renewable energy funding while expanding fossil fuel exploration, policies that clash with global emission-reduction goals.
Delegates expressed concerns that the U.S. might still dispatch lower-level representatives to disrupt proceedings. Earlier this year, U.S. pressure derailed other environmental talks, with participants labeling the tactics as "bully-boy" interference. UN climate chief Simon Stiell acknowledged progress in cutting emissions but warned against infighting: "Not one single nation can afford this," he said, citing climate disasters that have slashed GDP growth by double digits in vulnerable countries.
Brazil's $125bn forest fund faces early setbacks
Host nation Brazil is pushing a flagship initiative, the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), aiming to raise $125 billion to protect global tropical forests. However, fundraising stumbled last week when UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer abruptly withdrew public funding. On Monday, UK climate envoy Rachel Kyte called the fund a "brilliant idea" and pledged eventual support, though no timeline was given.
After protracted negotiations, delegates finalized the summit's agenda, which includes reassessing the feasibility of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels-a target the UN now admits will likely be surpassed. Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), representing vulnerable Caribbean and Pacific nations, had insisted on addressing the goal. Last week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres framed failure to meet it as "a moral failure and deadly negligence."
Indigenous welcome amid logistical challenges
The conference opened with a traditional performance by the Guajajara indigenous group, welcoming diplomats in a venue where some attendees are housed in riverside shipping containers and cruise ships. The juxtaposition of lush Amazonian surroundings with heavily air-conditioned facilities underscored the event's logistical and symbolic tensions.
"Supplies have stabilized, but conservation remains essential."
Guajajara representative, opening ceremony
Key priorities for the two-week talks
- Fossil fuel phase-out: Accelerating transitions to renewable energy.
- Climate finance: Securing funds for developing nations on the frontlines of climate impacts.
- Nature protection: Strengthening commitments to biodiversity conservation.
Analysts warn that without U.S. engagement, progress on these fronts may be limited. The summit runs through November 22.
