COP30 Leaders' Summit scheduled in Belém, Brazil

Brazil will host the COP30 World Leaders' Summit just days before the main UN climate talks in Belém. The summit is scheduled for November 6-7, with the official conference starting on November 10 and running until the 21st. This decision aims to allow more time for detailed discussions without the typical pressures of hotel arrangements and local logistics, according to COP30's extraordinary secretary, Valter Correia. The World Leaders' Summit is traditionally held at the beginning of the conference. In the past, it occurred in the middle of the event, often with fewer leaders in attendance. Claudio Angelo from the Observatório do Clima warned that advancing the summit might reduce inclusivity, as not everyone can afford to be in Belém earlier. He noted that this change could diminish pressure for mobilization among global leaders. Concerns were also raised by Natalie Unterstell, president of the Talanoa Institute. She expressed that this new schedule could lead to leaders making ambitious promises that negotiators might later weaken during the conference. At COP29 last year, countries agreed to a new finance goal of $300 billion annually by 2035 to support poorer nations in handling climate impacts. This replaced the previous $100 billion commitment, which was met two years late. Developing nations criticized COP29's outcomes as inadequate, calling it a failure on several key issues. Despite these concerns, UN climate chief Simon Steill labeled the finance agreement as crucial for humanity's future. He emphasized the need for timely and complete contributions to ensure the success of climate initiatives, which could lead to job creation, economic growth, and the transition to cleaner energy.