COP30 Opens in Belém With 'COP of Truth' Focus and High-Stakes Agenda Battle

Overview

• The UN climate summit runs November 10–21 in Belém, the first COP in the Amazon, with an expected 40,000–50,000 participants and record Indigenous representation.
• Negotiators entered Day 1 still wrangling over the official agenda, with disputes spanning climate finance obligations under Paris Article 9.1, unilateral trade measures, forest funding, responses to the NDC synthesis, and transparency reporting.
• The Tropical Forests Forever Fund launched with about US$5.5 billion in initial commitments from Norway, Indonesia, Brazil and France, with 20% of payments earmarked for Indigenous and traditional communities, and organizers seeking further pledges.
• Many countries missed the September deadline to submit updated 2035 targets, prompting pressure in Belém for stronger NDCs and a time-bound roadmap to implementation.
• Geopolitical tension clouds the talks, with warnings of potential obstruction by Saudi Arabia, Russia and allies, low-level U.S. participation, and a New York Times report alleging U.S. intimidation over a proposed international shipping pollution tax.