Call for stronger climate commitments by activists ahead of ‘critical’ COP30 as World leaders are gathering in Belém, Brazil, for their meeting on tackling climate change.
The “Conference of the Parties” (COP), the annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting is being held 10 years after the Paris climate agreement at which countries pledged to try to restrict the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C. António Guterres the UN Secretary-General says “overshooting” the 1.5C target is now inevitable with US President Donald Trump among leaders not expected to attend.
Climate change has led to the United States warming up by 1.4 °C (2.6 °F) since 1970. In 2023, the global average near-surface temperature reached 1.45 °C above pre-industrial levels, making it the warmest year on record. The meeting takes place at a crucial moment, with global climate targets under strain. Whilst the use of renewable energy, particularly solar power, is rapidly increasing, many nations’ climate plans have fallen short of what the 1.5C goal the BBC reports.
Greenpeace has issued a 4 point plan of action for COP 30 in support of a call for stronger climate commitments. They call for a global forest action plan to end deforestation and ecosystem collapse; a robust response to the 1.5°C ambition gap, including a fast and fair transition away from fossil fuels; Climate finance and accountability: make polluters pay and Protection for Indigenous Peoples and environmental defenders.
The independent global campaigning network believes that COP30 must deliver a breakthrough that unites climate and forest action.
COP30 officially runs from Monday 10 November to Friday 21 November. But it could overrun as on the past because of last-minute negotiations to secure a deal.