What was COP30 in Belém supposed to achieve?

COP30 in Belém marked ten years since the Paris Agreement and was billed as an Amazon-hosted summit to turn climate pledges into delivery. Brazil framed it as the Amazon COP and the COP of truth, with goals that included stronger national plans, more reliable climate finance for poorer countries, and better protection for forests such as the Amazon, Congo and Southeast Asian rainforests.

Why did some leaders skip COP30 or send only low-level delegations?

Key emitters sent limited representation. The United States, led by a president who has repeatedly called global warming a hoax and a con job, did not send a high-level delegation, signalling that Washington was unlikely to back major new climate finance or fossil fuel commitments. Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, remained at home while his ministers and officials attended in his place, and other leaders opted for short appearances or video messages.

What happened with protests and the venue scare in Belém?

Indigenous and community groups organised protests outside the COP30 site, accusing organisers of using their image while sidelining their input. At one point, protesters forced their way into part of the official blue zone. A short-circuit and small fire near a main entrance triggered visible smoke, an evacuation and a temporary closure while firefighters and engineers checked the damage. Negotiations resumed later, but the incident became a symbol of a summit under pressure.

How did events in Rio de Janeiro affect the tone of COP30?

Just before COP30, Brazil carried out a large police and military operation in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas that left more than a hundred people dead. President Lula apologised and said he would not let violence define the summit, but the raid drew attention to the gap between Brazil’s climate-leadership narrative and its domestic security reality. Critics argued that it undercut the moral authority Brazil sought to project in Belém.

Why does COP30 matter for people living in the Amazon and beyond?

For Amazon communities, Indigenous peoples and residents of cities like Belém, COP30 is less about communiqués and more about whether funding and protection actually reach the front lines. Their livelihoods depend on river levels, forest health and protection from illegal logging and mining. Globally, COP30 is another test of whether climate summits can still deliver enough shared trust and concrete action to bend emissions downward before extreme heat, floods, fires and displacement grow even worse.