World leaders have taken a united front against former US President Donald Trump's approach to climate change at the ongoing COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil. With Trump notably absent from the event, criticism aimed at his climate policies has permeated discussions.
Colombian and Chilean leaders openly challenged Trump's rejection of climate science, labeling him a liar. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pointed out the diminishing political support for climate action, remarking on a critical loss of international consensus.
The summit, running for two weeks, aims to establish new agreements on climate change, focusing particularly on increasing funding for the protection of essential forests. However, many leaders from major countries, including India, Russia, the US, and China, have yet to attend this pivotal gathering.
Trump’s controversial commentary earlier, where he termed climate change as 'the greatest con job', has remained a focal point for leaders at COP30. President Lula of Brazil expressed concerns over 'extremist forces' that spread misinformation detrimental to future generations in terms of climate integrity.
In the backdrop, despite UK pledges towards environmental support, a recent decision by the UK government to abstain from a major $125 billion funding initiative for rainforest conservation has frustrated Brazil's leadership.
As negotiations unfold, the emphasis remains on reinforcing commitments to combat climate change and the necessity for developed countries to financially support those most affected by climate impacts.
