Highlights

• COP30 climate summit in Brazil will review Paris Agreement commitments.
• China and Europe outline emission reduction targets and renewable energy plans.
• U.N. warns current pledges could limit emissions cuts to 2.6% by 2030.

World leaders gathered at the U.N. climate summit to discuss international climate goals in the run-up to COP30 in Belem, Brazil, this November.

The meeting marked the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, and countries are rolling up their sleeves to submit new climate goals for the coming decade.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva exhorted nations to meet their Paris Agreement commitments, warning that without it, a 4-degree Celsius rise in global temperatures could be fatal. He said that broken promises create a cycle of mistrust and inaction and called for renewed confidence in collective efforts.

Read More: Australia Sets 62% Carbon Reduction Target as Extreme Weather Rises

The U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres noted that existing plans are far from adequate. Current pledges by member countries would only reduce global emissions by 2.6% by 2030 compared to 2019, while scientists recommend a 43% reduction to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

This gap shows that nations need to submit more ambitious climate strategies before COP30.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe is on track to cut carbon emissions by 55% by 2030, having already reduced emissions by 40% since 1990. She also added that Europe contributes only 6% of global emissions and pledged that the continent will continue its climate efforts.

The United States was largely absent from Wednesday’s discussions. President Donald Trump had criticised renewable energy and called climate change a “con job” in a previous speech, describing renewable energy and immigration as a “double-tailed monster” that harms economies.

Also Read: Study: Vietnam’s GHG Emissions Rose Sharply in 2024

China’s President Xi Jinping addressed the summit, outlining plans to cut net greenhouse gases by 7–10% from peak levels by 2035 and increase the share of non-fossil fuels in total energy to over 30%.

He said China will expand wind and solar capacity, grow forest stock, increase new energy vehicle use, and develop a climate-adaptive society.

Xi also stressed climate justice, saying developed nations should lead and respect the rights of developing countries, and added that the transition to green energy should reduce, rather than widen, the gap between the global north and south.

Ends/

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Source: Courthouse News Service