The biggest climate change conference of the year is about to kick off. Each year, representatives from countries across the globe gather together to explore how to address the growing challenges caused by climate change. This yearly gathering is called the United Nations Climate Conference, and 2025’s meeting (COP30) marks the 30th year the conference has taken place. While the original conference was attended by only a few dozen individuals, it’s now a massive gathering attended by diplomats, business leaders, political representatives, and civil leaders from nearly 200 different countries, all with the focus of tackling climate change.
Key Facts About the COP30 Conference
The conference changes locations each year. This year, the meeting takes place in Belém, Brazil, a city that sits near the mouth of the Amazon river. The 30th Conference of Parties, or COP30, starts November 10 and will continue through November 21, though attendees began gathering on Thursday November 6. During the conference, attendees will participate in brainstorming, formal talks and negotiations, and planning aimed towards a global response to slow the rapidly warming climate. At the end of the conference, the idea is that there will be a formal agreement among the 197 countries to guide progress going forward.
This year is particularly pivotal in addressing climate change. While many countries have made pledges to slow or even reduce their emissions, few have met their goals. This year, the conference aims to put firm plans into place to help make noticeable progress.
Ten years ago, countries made an agreement known as the Paris climate agreement. Its goal was limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But the head of the UN has stated that it won’t be possible to make that goal at this point. As such, attendees at the conference will be looking at a new goal and for ways to reach it.
Issues and Challenges
One of the biggest challenges facing COP30 is lack of attendance from major greenhouse emitting nations like China, Russia, and India. Turkey, Australia, and Indonesia will also be absent. The United States won’t have formal representation from Trump’s cabinet, but a few Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have said that they plan to attend. China, too, will send delegates, but President Xi Jinping will be absent.
The lack of cooperation from the United States government leaves a major gap in the talks. This is because the US has the largest economy on the planet and is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gasses. Any serious bid to address climate change will require the country’s involvement. But the Trump administration has shifted its focus away from green energy and towards dirtier methods of producing energy, like oil and gas. Trump has called climate change the “greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” However, Democratic leaders like California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, will be attending in an unofficial capacity.
Attendees and Absent Allies
The absence of the leader of China, the world’s largest polluter, and India, the third largest polluter, is also a major missing piece. Russia, also lacking formal representation at the conference, is the fourth largest polluter on the planet.
Representatives from many other major countries have agreed to attend. From the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Prince William, on behalf of King Charles, will attend. Starmer said that the “consensus is gone” to address climate change, but noted that the UK would still be “all in” on fighting it.
For all its good intentions, the conference isn’t without controversy. Throughout the years, many major representatives from the oil and gas industry have been in attendance. This year, Brazil cleared part of the Amazon rainforest to make a road for the conference and lodging in the area has been accused of price gouging. As such, the conference has been accused of “greenwashing.”
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COP30 Goals and Action Plans
That’s not to say that COP doesn’t have any benefits. At previous conferences, countries have made agreements to move away from fossil fuels and adopt green energy. Wealthier countries agreed to contribute funds to less wealthy countries to help them meet the same goal. Last year, represented countries agreed to fund $300 billion towards addressing climate change globally. This year, leaders hope that they will be able to secure $1.3 trillion in funding. Without cooperation from the United States, some fear that they won’t be able to reach this level of funding.
The conference will also aim to set numerical targets for how much each individual country needs to reduce emissions to help the globe reach its overall goal. These targets are part of plans known as Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs. Every five years, countries that have signed the 2015 Paris Agreement are required to submit new NDCs. As a result, this is something the conference will address. At this point, 95 percent of countries have failed to meet their goals. The United States has withdrawn itself from the Paris agreement two separate times, under the first and second Trump administration.
Emphasis on Increasing Green Energy and Slowing Climate Change
While the conference was initially established to help governments drive change, the private sector has picked up the slack, Green energies in particular are being seen as an increasingly smart investment. In fact, green technologies now account for $700 billion annually. Attendees will likely focus on ways to further encourage growth in the green market while integrating policy changes at the government level to slow climate change.
For more information on the COP30 conference, as well as tips on how individuals can help to slow climate change, you can visit the following websites:
United Nations COP30 Conference Official Site
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
World Meteorological Association
UN Environment Program: How Every Individual can Help to Slow Climate Change
Featured image: “Family Photo” by UNclimatechange, license CC BY-NC-SA 4.0