What are world leaders saying at climate summit in Brazil?

Brazil welcomed world leaders on Thursday for a high-level climate summit in the Amazonian city of Belém, ahead of the COP30 conference set to take place next year. The gathering brought urgent appeals for unity, ambition and accountability as the planet nears critical climate thresholds.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered one of the summit’s starkest messages, warning that nations were failing to meet the 1.5°C target.

“We can choose to lead, or be led to ruin,” Guterres said. He accused major corporations of fuelling the climate crisis by making “record profits from devastation” and spending billions on lobbying and misinformation. “Too many leaders remain captive to these entrenched interests,” he added.

Lula calls for roadmap to end deforestation

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva urged world leaders to take concrete steps toward a sustainable and equitable transition.

“We need a roadmap to undo deforestation, move beyond fossil fuels and mobilise the resources necessary for those aims,” he said.
Lula also denounced “extremist forces” spreading falsehoods for political gain, warning they were “imprisoning future generations in an outdated model that sustains inequality and environmental degradation.”

China urges “true multilateralism”

China’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, speaking through a translator, emphasised the need for genuine global cooperation.

“It is imperative for all parties to uphold true multilateralism, strengthen solidarity and coordination, and make sustained progress in global climate governance,” he said. He called for the removal of trade barriers and greater collaboration on green technology to enable “the free flow of quality sustainable products.”

Prince William: “A pivotal moment in human history”

Britain’s Prince William described the gathering as a defining moment for humanity. “Here in the heart of the Amazon, we meet at a pivotal moment in human history — one that demands courage, cooperation and unwavering commitment to our planet’s future,” he said. He warned that the world was “edging dangerously close to critical tipping points” beyond which natural systems “may begin to unravel.”

Chile’s Boric calls out climate denial

Chile’s President Gabriel Boric used his speech to denounce leaders who dismiss scientific evidence. “These are times when voices are rising to deny the climate crisis,” he said via translator. “At the last UN Assembly, the President of the United States claimed the crisis does not exist — and that is a lie.”

Looking ahead to COP30

The Belém summit sets the tone for COP30, which will mark three decades of global climate negotiations. With key emitters including the United States, China, India, and Russia absent from the talks, participants emphasised the need for renewed multilateralism and stronger commitments to protect the planet’s most vital ecosystems.

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