Overview
- The two-day meeting in Belém is designed to inject political momentum before formal COP30 negotiations begin on November 10, with roughly 60 leaders attending.
- The United States, China and India did not send their top leaders, with China represented by Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and the United States lacking high-level representation.
- Brazil launched the Tropical Forests Fund with a $1 billion pledge, Indonesia said it would match the amount, and China indicated it would contribute, while some partners, including the United Kingdom, offered no funding.
- Guterres urged rapid emissions cuts, stronger methane measures and delivery of climate finance, calling fossil-fuel investment and subsidies a short-sighted diversion from public interest.
- Brazil’s push to lead on forests drew scrutiny over new Petrobras offshore exploration near the Amazon as protests and indigenous-led demonstrations gained visibility in Belém.