Global leaders convened in the heart of the Amazon on Thursday for a high-level summit ahead of next year’s COP30 climate conference, warning that the world is running out of time to avert environmental catastrophe.
The gathering in Belém, the rainforest city set to host COP30 — brought together heads of state, ministers and royalty united by a single message: climate action can no longer wait.
'We can choose to lead, or be led to ruin'
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres opened with a stark warning.
“We can choose to lead, or be led to ruin,” he declared. “Too many corporations are making record profits from climate devastation, spending billions to mislead the public and obstruct progress — while too many leaders remain captive to these interests.”
Lula: ‘We need a roadmap to undo deforestation’
Host President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva urged a collective push for a just transition away from fossil fuels. “We need a roadmap to undo deforestation, overcome fossil fuels and mobilise the resources to achieve these aims,” Lula said. He accused extremist forces of “inventing untruths for electoral gains” that trap future generations in an unsustainable model.
China calls for ‘true multilateralism’
China’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, speaking through a translator, called for unity and open trade in green technologies. “It is imperative that all parties uphold true multilateralism and strengthen collaboration,” he said. “We must remove trade barriers and ensure the free flow of green products to advance global sustainable development.”
Prince William: ‘We are edging dangerously close to tipping points’
Representing Britain, Prince William described the moment as pivotal for humanity. “Here in the heart of the Amazon, we meet at a moment that demands courage and cooperation,” he said. “We are edging dangerously close to the Earth’s critical tipping points — thresholds beyond which natural systems may begin to unravel.”
Boric: ‘Denial is a lie’
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric issued a blunt rebuke to climate sceptics. “These are times when some voices choose to deny the scientific evidence of the climate crisis,” he said. “The President of the United States said at the last U.N. Assembly that the climate crisis does not exist — and that is a lie.”
Africa’s call for justice
Eswatini’s Prime Minister Russell Dlamini said the crisis is existential for Africa. “This is not about environmental policy — it is about survival and justice,” he said. “Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions, yet endures the harshest consequences.”
‘Fewer leaders willing to tell the truth’
Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin lamented the dwindling political will.
“At a time when leadership has never been more vital, fewer of us are here in Belém — fewer leaders ready to tell it as it is,” he said. “Climate change is unarguable. The science is undeniable. If we cannot be honest with our citizens about this, we are failing them — and the planet — in the most profound way.”
A defining moment before COP30
The summit serves as a prelude to COP30, which Brazil will host in November 2026. By holding it in the Amazon, leaders hope to underscore both the urgency and symbolism of protecting the planet’s largest rainforest — a critical carbon sink now under increasing strain.
The tone in Belém was one of candour and confrontation. As Guterres put it, the world faces a choice: “lead, or be led to ruin.”
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Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano is showing increased activity, with lava flowing from two summit craters and flames, smoke and ash rising from the caldera.
The Arctic has become a frontline for strategic competition, NATO’s top military commander in Europe said on Sunday, as Russia and China increase their presence in the region.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov is suffering kidney failure and is undergoing dialysis, Ukrainian intelligence sources say.
More than 1,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv remain without heating after Russian missile attacks crippled the city’s energy system during a sharp cold snap, Ukrainian officials say.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out ordering a mission to capture Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he is confident the war in Ukraine can be brought to an end.
Bob Weir, the rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 78, his family has said.
China, Russia and Iran have begun a week-long joint naval exercise in South African waters, a move that comes amid strained relations between Washington and several members of the expanded BRICS bloc.
Despite facing challenges in chip manufacturing, Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) researchers are optimistic about narrowing the technological gap with the United States, driven by an increasing culture of risk-taking and innovation.
Warning of a strategic threat from Russia and China, Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States must acquire Greenland to prevent the Arctic island from falling under foreign control.
Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano is showing increased activity, with lava flowing from two summit craters and flames, smoke and ash rising from the caldera.
The Arctic has become a frontline for strategic competition, NATO’s top military commander in Europe said on Sunday, as Russia and China increase their presence in the region.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov is suffering kidney failure and is undergoing dialysis, Ukrainian intelligence sources say.
More than 1,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv remain without heating after Russian missile attacks crippled the city’s energy system during a sharp cold snap, Ukrainian officials say.
Deaths linked to nationwide protests in Iran have risen to more than 500, according to a U.S.-based rights group, as Tehran warned it would retaliate against U.S. military targets if Washington intervenes.
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