BRAZIL, Nov 7: World leaders have sharply criticised US President Donald Trump for rejecting climate science ahead of the COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, the BBC reported. Colombia and Chile’s presidents accused Trump of spreading falsehoods and undermining global efforts to address climate change. Trump, who has opted out of attending the summit, recently dismissed climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.”
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged the declining global consensus on climate policy, saying what was once a unifying issue has now fractured politically. According to the BBC, leaders gathering in Belém will spend two weeks negotiating a new climate deal, focusing on financing for forest protection. Yet the absence of major nations such as the United States, China, India, and Russia has cast a shadow over expectations.
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Without directly naming Trump, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned against “extremist forces that fabricate fake news” and jeopardise future generations. The BBC quoted Chile’s environment minister, Maisa Rojas, who said it was essential “not to falsify the truth.” Despite strong criticism of Trump, delegates have struggled to reach agreement on concrete actions. Many countries have not submitted updated carbon reduction plans, raising doubts about their collective ability to slow global warming.
In a setback for the Brazilian hosts, the UK government withdrew from a proposed $125 billion fund to protect rainforests, known as the Tropical Forests Forever Facility.
The fund, backed by President Lula, aims to raise $25 billion from developed countries to help communities safeguard forests such as the Amazon and the Congo Basin. These ecosystems cover just six percent of the planet’s land but store billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases, the BBC noted.
Lord Zach Goldsmith, a former UK environment minister, told the BBC that the UK’s withdrawal had caused “real frustration” in Brazil, where officials were expecting strong British participation. The move contrasts with the stance of the Prince of Wales, who praised the initiative as “a visionary step toward valuing nature’s role in climate stability.” Addressing leaders, Prince William urged them to act decisively for future generations, saying, “Let us be the generation that turned the tide, not for applause, but for the quiet gratitude of those yet to be born.”
From Monday, delegates will resume talks on financing and adaptation measures for countries most affected by climate impacts. The BBC said this comes amid a string of extreme weather disasters, including Hurricane Melissa, which killed more than 75 people in the Caribbean last week. Scientists at Imperial College found that climate change has increased the rainfall intensity of hurricanes by 16 per cent, underscoring the urgency of the crisis.
