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The CEO of this year’s COP30 climate conference in Brazil discussed expectations at an appearance during the Newsweek London Climate Action Week. Ana Toni, the COP30 CEO, stated that “we need to be realistic about where geopolitics stand right now,” noting ongoing military and trade wars.
COP30 will take place in Belém, Pará state, at the Amazon River’s mouth, marking Brazil’s first UN climate talks hosted within the Amazon. The event also celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, with countries updating their national plans to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets.
Despite global growth in renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs), emissions have reached a record high, and 2022 was one of the warmest years on record. This combination makes COP30 an urgent meeting. However, the current political climate does not favor significant progress, according to Toni.
In addition to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, former U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs against trade partners globally, undermined other multilateral talks, and announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris agreement.
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Toni warned against expecting dramatic results at COP30: “Unfortunately, any one meeting will not solve our problems. The work won’t finish here; it’s just a very important moment.”
Toni is Brazil’s national secretary for Climate Change and will lead the COP30 talks alongside André Corrêa do Lago. She emphasized promoting finance for nature conservation and climate solutions.
“COP30 must focus on how cities can reduce emissions and adapt to growing climate impacts,” Toni said, adding that many people are suffering from extreme weather events like heatwaves, fires, and flooding.
Jennifer Morgan, Germany’s special envoy for international climate action, echoed the need for greater attention to climate adaptation. Jim Skea, professor emeritus at Imperial College London and chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, highlighted that falling costs in renewable energy production are making clean technology increasingly cost-effective.
Global investments in clean energy solutions reached a record $3.3 trillion this year, with twice as much investment directed towards clean energy compared to fossil fuels.
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