COP30 aims to become a benchmark

Brasilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva set out ambitions for hosting the upcoming 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP30) which as he said would serve “as a benchmark for what we want moving forward”.

"I am not being humble when I tell you that we held the most important G20 in history. Now we will repeat this with the largest BRICS, and hold the best ever COP, in the heart of the Amazon,” – said Brasilian leader during a press conference at the Palacio do Planalto, as reported by the Brazilian government’s press-release.

According to him, COP30, which will take place in Belem, will not only draw attention to climate change but also showcase the lives of the region’s indigenous peoples.

“We want something truly meaningful," he added. “If we do not do something bold, these COPs will be discredited because they approve measures that look good on paper," the President said, mentioning new financing promises made at last year's COP in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the need to move from words to actions.

Last year's COP29 was dubbed the "Finance COP" and ended with developed countries agreeing to mobilise $300 billion of climate finance to support developing countries as well as marked a key milestone on Article 6 negotiations, which will be key for operationalising carbon markets and creating an alternative for developing countries to mobilise climate finance, especially from private sources.