World Leaders Convene in Belém for COP30, Pledge Science-Led Climate Action

The Belém conference also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, which set the goal of keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C and ideally limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Thousands of diplomats, climate scientists, and civil society leaders have gathered in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — a historic summit taking place in the heart of the Amazon, the world’s largest tropical rainforest.

The choice of Belém as host city symbolizes both the urgency and the hope of the global climate effort: to cut greenhouse gas emissions, protect forests as vital carbon sinks, and accelerate a just transition toward low-carbon, climate-resilient economies.

“This will be a COP that listens to and believes in science — the COP of Truth,” declared COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago, opening the summit alongside Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

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Brazil’s Amazon: The Heart of the Climate Conversation

For Brazil, hosting COP30 marks both a symbolic and strategic moment. Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Lula reaffirmed Brazil’s role as a global leader in environmental diplomacy and introduced the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, a landmark initiative to reward nations that successfully halt deforestation.

The new fund, potentially channeling up to $4 billion annually to 74 forest-rich countries, aims to make forests “worth more standing than cleared.” Lula described it as a practical mechanism to combat deforestation while creating sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

“The Amazon is not just Brazil’s responsibility — it is the planet’s lungs,” President Lula said. “We are proving that protecting nature and reducing inequality can go hand in hand.”

The Belém conference also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, which set the goal of keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C and ideally limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

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Science Front and Center at COP30

Unlike previous climate summits, COP30 has placed science at the core of its agenda. The opening session featured a keynote from World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, who delivered a sobering assessment of the State of the Global Climate.

According to the WMO, 2025 is projected to be the second or third hottest year on record, with ocean heat at record highs, sea levels continuing to rise, and sea ice and glaciers shrinking at alarming rates.

“It will be virtually impossible to limit global warming to 1.5°C in the near term without temporarily overshooting the target,” Saulo warned. “But science also shows us the way forward — to keep that overshoot as small, short, and safe as possible.”

Saulo highlighted the critical role of early warning systems and climate services in saving lives and guiding adaptation efforts. Since 2015, the number of countries with multi-hazard early warning systems has more than doubled, and two-thirds of meteorological agencies now deliver climate-informed decision tools, such as heat-health alerts and agricultural forecasts.

“Science is not only warning us — it is equipping us to act,” Saulo said.

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A Collective Agenda: The “Mutirão” for Planetary Solutions

Under Brazil’s presidency, COP30 will revolve around an ambitious Action Agenda consisting of 30 priority goals, each led by “activation groups” tasked with scaling up concrete solutions. The structure draws inspiration from the Indigenous concept of a “mutirão” — meaning collective effort or communal task.

Key among these goals is the implementation of the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap, which lays out a plan to mobilize $1.3 trillion in global climate finance. The roadmap includes five major priorities:

1. Reinforcing six multilateral climate funds to ensure predictable long-term support for developing nations.

2. Innovative taxation mechanisms targeting polluting industries.

3. Debt-for-climate swaps to convert sovereign debt into climate investments — potentially unlocking $100 billion for developing economies.

4. Private sector mobilization to complement public funds through green bonds and blended finance.

5. Technology transfer and capacity building to help nations achieve resilience and sustainability.

“Lamenting is not a strategy. We need solutions,” said UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, urging delegates to move beyond promises toward action-oriented cooperation.

Stiell underscored that no country can afford climate inaction, noting that climate-related disasters have cost double-digit losses in national GDPs in vulnerable economies.

“The economics of transition are now indisputable,” he said. “Investment in clean energy already outpaces fossil fuels two to one — and this momentum must continue.”

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Bridging Science, Policy, and Innovation

Throughout COP30, the Science for Climate Action Pavilion will serve as a hub for integrating scientific research into policymaking. Hosting over 45 side events, the pavilion will feature 200+ experts from governments, academia, and civil society.

Sessions will include high-level roundtables, report launches, and immersive workshops on climate observation systems, renewable energy modeling, carbon removal technologies, and social innovation. All events are being livestreamed globally, making scientific insights accessible to a wider audience than ever before.

“Our goal is to ensure that climate policy is informed by the best available science — and that science is guided by the needs of people on the ground,” said Saulo.

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Momentum, Accountability, and Hope

As negotiations unfold in Belém, delegates face mounting pressure to deliver a credible path toward deep emissions cuts, stronger adaptation mechanisms, and more equitable climate finance.

For many observers, COP30 is more than a technical meeting — it is a litmus test for the Paris Agreement’s durability and a chance to reaffirm the multilateral system’s relevance in tackling the existential climate crisis.

The Amazonian setting, coupled with Brazil’s assertive leadership, has infused the summit with a renewed sense of moral and ecological purpose. From forest conservation to financing innovation, the conversations in Belém will shape how the world navigates the next decisive decade of climate action.

“This COP must be remembered as the one that put truth, science, and justice at the center,” said Corrêa do Lago. “The Amazon is sending a message to the world — act now, together, and with courage.”