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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