Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Nov 2: The United States will not send top officials to this month’s COP30 climate talks in Belem, Brazil, the White House confirmed.
A White House official told Reuters and AFP:
“The US is not sending any high-level representatives to COP30.”
The decision comes as President Donald Trump prepares to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement by January 2026 and continues to pursue policies supportive of fossil fuels. The official emphasized that the president is engaging with world leaders on energy through trade and peace deals rather than multilateral climate forums.
Context:
• Trump has consistently criticized global climate initiatives, calling climate change a "con job" at last month’s UN General Assembly.
• Since taking office, he has rolled back Biden-era climate regulations, promoted fossil fuel extraction, and reduced US climate finance pledges.
• These moves have drawn criticism for undermining global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.
About COP30:
• The 30th UN Climate Change Conference will take place Nov 10–23 in Belem, Brazil, highlighting Amazon rainforest conservation.
• Hosted by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the conference aims to rally leaders on global warming limits, review COP29 finance pledges, and advance adaptation strategies for vulnerable nations.
• A key initiative is Brazil’s $125 billion “Tropical Forest Forever Facility”, set to reward tropical countries for forest protection starting in 2026.
While environmental advocates may be disappointed, the absence of a US delegation reflects ongoing divergence between US federal policy and global climate objectives.