Brazil kicks off COP30 climate events in year of distractions

Brazil opens three weeks of events linked to the COP30 climate summit, hoping to showcase a world still determined to tackle global warming.

Business leaders in São Paulo urged stronger energy transition policies, calling on governments to boost renewable energy incentives.

Separately, Britain’s Prince William will preside over a ceremony in Rio for his annual Earthshot Prize recognising contributions to environmentalism over the last year.

However, countries and corporates may be hard-pressed to project the same optimism that has marked climate diplomacy in recent years.

Today, global cooperation is stagnating amid geopolitical tensions and multiple wars.

An erratic series of U.S. tariffs has upended economic stability worldwide, while U.S. reversals on clean energy policy and climate science have rattled investors.

And while costs for renewable energy have plummeted to below fossil fuels, many countries are juggling competing goals such as food security or developing AI.

Business leaders still hope to press clean energy policies as a priority.

“It makes strong business sense and ensures energy security and competitiveness,” said Gonzalo Sáenz de Miera, chairman of the Spanish Green Growth Group.

The main 10-21 November summit in Belem has also seen fewer people register than for COPs in the recent past.

With limited hotel capacity and high room prices in Belem, only about 12,200 people had signed up as of 8 October, according to preliminary data from the UN climate agency.

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