The 30th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), held in Brazil, has concluded. The focus was on agreeing to a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels, but opposition from oil-producing countries led to the plan being dropped. The international community must continue cooperating to prevent backsliding on decarbonization efforts.
Heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires are occurring frequently around the world, highlighting the impacts of global warming. COP30, held in Belem, Brazil—a city near the Amazon River's mouth—drew attention to issues like deforestation while underscoring the need for international cooperation on decarbonization.
Marking the 30th anniversary of the first COP and the 10th of the Paris Agreement, the conference faced unprecedented challenges. The rise in electricity demand from generative AI is expected to boost thermal power generation, countering decarbonization. Meanwhile, Donald Trump's second U.S. presidential term led to another withdrawal from the Paris Agreement; he dismissed climate measures as "the greatest con job ever" and sent no high-ranking officials, a move deemed regrettable.
Tensions over climate finance persisted between developed nations reluctant to increase burdens and developing countries. Ultimately, a modest goal to "triple adaptation finance by 2035" was included, preserving participant solidarity. The aim is to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, but national CO2 reduction targets fall short, with temperatures temporarily exceeding 1.5°C last year. Strengthening countermeasures is urgent.
Rising temperatures affect ecosystems adversely, including recent extreme heatwaves, poor rice harvests in Japan, and bear sightings—issues linked to climate change. Delays in decarbonization will burden future generations more heavily. At the conference, a declaration was issued to enhance science-based information sharing, countering disinformation on social media that undermines global warming actions.
Nations must collaborate to combat such misinformation and maintain momentum against climate change.