In depth

COP30: What to expect from Brazil’s tricky summit

The UN gathering in the Amazonian city of Belém is beset by hurdles, not least because of concerns that US climate scepticism will prove contagious. The era of international climate rulemaking may be over, but the hosts retain an optimistic tone.
10 November 2025 at 8h00
Energy
The climate leaders' summit on 6-7 November in Belém, Brazil. Kay Nietfeld/DPA/SIPA
by Damien Genicot, Victor Roux-Goeken Adapted from French by Gabriela Galindo

The international community is heading to Brazil for the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) climate summit in November, an event President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva described as “the COP of truth”.

As global temperatures race upwards and the world squabbles, the gathering takes place in Belém, a coastal city of 1.4 million in the Amazon forest. From deforestation to adaptation, there’s plenty to discuss — and the country’s leadership is keen to strike an optimistic…

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