King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia attend a summit in Belém, Brazil, ahead of the UN climate meeting COP30. In his speech to world leaders, the king stresses the importance of achieving the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree global warming limit. He warns of rising emissions and strained ecosystems.
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are in Belém, Brazil, for a summit ahead of the UN climate meeting COP30, which begins on Monday, November 10, 2025. They represent Sweden alongside EU Minister Jessica Rosencrantz (M). No Swedish minister will attend the main meeting next week, as Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) has canceled due to pregnancy.
In his address to world leaders, the king emphasizes the need to achieve the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels. “Greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase and ecosystems are under enormous pressure,” he says. He calls for building resilience for future generations: “We must build resilience for the sake of coming generations.”
The king reflects on his environmental engagement, which began at the UN's first environmental conference in Stockholm in 1972, where he participated as a young crown prince with his grandfather Gustaf VI Adolf. “It was historic in that it put global environmental issues on the political agenda. It was also the starting shot for international cooperation on environmental issues,” he states. The conference led to a lifelong commitment and convinced him of the necessity of cross-border collaboration.
Despite 33 years since the UN climate convention was adopted in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, significant challenges remain, according to the king. He anticipates tough negotiations: “It will surely be tough negotiations in the coming week.” Queen Silvia, who partly grew up in Brazil, expresses joy at returning: “It's wonderful to be back. And it's fantastic to see that so many countries have come here.”