Belem, Brazil – In recent years, extreme heat wave and flood Thousands killed in Spain, high temperatures in Namibia drought and one widespread hunger. Last week, Hurricane Melisa passed through Haiti, killing more than 40 people due to global warming.
these are, The serious impact that global warming is having on the earth It was shared by world leaders who gathered in Belem, Brazil, on Friday for the United Nations climate conference, COP30. “Forests are disappearing, sea levels are rising, and as a result, people are losing their sources of livelihood,” said Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Salah Jama. “Simply put, we live on a planet in crisis.”
The President of Brazil is Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvathis speaks Monday at the official opening ceremony of COP30where he is expected to issue a call for “shared responsibility” in the face of the climate crisis.
The meeting of politicians, diplomats, scientists and business executives comes during a year of record temperatures and extreme weather, which scientists say is being made worse by human-caused climate change.
this week, The United Nations has announced that the world is far from keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. Compared to pre-industrial levels: this was the goal agreed to by virtually all countries in the Paris Climate Agreement a decade ago.
on the contrary, Greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation continue to riseand the world is heading for about 2.8°C of warming. Scientists say that for every tenth of a degree rise, the risk of heat waves, forest fires, droughts, storms and the extinction of plant and animal species increases.
The United States is one of the few countries in the world not to participate in COP30.. President Trump has often downplayed the threat of climate change, encouraging the use of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas while sanctioning the renewable energy industry.
Dr. Maina Vakahua Talia, Minister of Environment of the small island nation of Tuvalu, met directly with President Trump. “Sadly, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement,” Talia said. “Mr. President, that’s a lack of respect for the rest of the world, and it’s shameful.”
For more than 12 hours, other leaders from around the world focused on the very specific effects of rising temperatures on their countries.
“You only have to look out your window to see the effects of climate change,” said Kalani Kaneko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Marshall Islands. “Sea levels are rising, corals are dying, and fish are leaving our shores for colder waters.”
Kenya has experienced extreme droughts alternating with devastating floods in recent years, affecting millions of people. “While I was traveling here, we continued to search for dozens of people who went missing in the avalanches that affected parts of our country, and this is a common occurrence,” Kenya’s Vice President Kisre Kindiki said. Iraq’s Environment Minister Haro Mustafa Al Askari spoke of the challenges facing the country, where temperatures often reach 50 degrees Celsius.
“Water scarcity has become a life-and-death challenge in Iraq, further contributing to drought, desertification and sandstorms,” al-Askari said. “This crisis threatens biodiversity and agriculture, and undermines the livelihoods of local communities.”
Rwanda’s Environment Minister Bernadette Arakwie spoke about the 2023 floods that killed 130 people within 24 hours and caused $200 million in damage. “This is not an isolated tragedy, but another example of how devastating a single extreme weather event can cause,” the minister said.
With international cooperation at a standstill and many countries focusing on issues such as trade and energy security, officials attending COP30 hope to use the UN summit in Brazil to focus the world’s attention on the dangers of climate change and the benefits of transitioning to cleaner forms of energy.
“In the early stages, the focus is on getting back to the basics: climate change is real and important,” said Casey Brown, associate director for climate diplomacy and geopolitics at European research and advocacy group E3G. “Today, we cannot take that fundamental message for granted.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said his country was working with other countries to impose additional taxes on first-class air travel and private jet travel. “It’s fair. Everyone is paying their fair share,” Sanchez said, adding that he wants to stop using public money to fund new fossil fuel projects.
Many leaders also called for Rich countries will spend more money on climate action Also available in developing countries.
“Current global financial structures must be reformed so that developing countries have access to finance to invest in climate action,” Kenyan Vice President Kindiki said.
The debate over funding for these programs comes as the Trump administration seeks to undermine global climate policy.
Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Kaneko condemned efforts by some countries, including the United States, to block a treaty that would cap carbon emissions from the shipping industry.
Kaneki said, “The United States’ attitude at the International Maritime Organization was outrageous.” “We can’t repeat this.”
Of course, world leaders used their speeches to talk about issues other than climate change. As is often the case in these international forums, each discussion is fraught with conflict and geopolitical grievances, making it difficult for countries to reach agreement.
Iranian Vice President Shina Ansari condemned attacks on the country this year by the United States and Israel.
“The act not only violated international law and constituted a war crime, but also caused widespread and lasting environmental damage,” Ansari said.
Honduran President Xiomara Castro has attacked Israel since Thursday, the first day of the summit. “The genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip cannot go unpunished,” he said.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevich also spoke out against President Vladimir V. Putin on Thursday. “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an attempt to rebuild the world order through war,” the Latvian president said. “It takes lives and damages nature for no good reason.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also criticized the Trump administration’s expansion of military deployment to the Caribbean. “There is a threat of invasion everywhere,” Petro said. “Threats of invasion of Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, and a full-scale invasion of the Caribbean.”
Translation of Jaime Arambide
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