As the COP30 summit begins in Belém, world leaders have sharply criticised US President Donald Trump for rejecting climate science. Trump, who skipped the gathering in the Amazonian city, was called a liar by the presidents of Colombia and Chile for denying global warming.
Global unity on climate falters
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer admitted that international consensus on climate action has weakened. He said it had once united countries across political lines but added, “today sadly that consensus is gone.” Over the next two weeks, nations will negotiate a new deal focused on funding forest protection. However, leaders from India, Russia, the US and China are notably absent from the talks.
Even though Trump is not present, his sceptical stance dominates discussions in Belém. Speaking at the UN in September, he claimed climate change was “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” He argued that industrialised nations should not “inflict pain on themselves” by disrupting their economies for environmental goals.
Lula warns against fake news and denial
Without naming Trump, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned of “extremist forces spreading fake news” that risk condemning future generations to a permanently altered planet. The leaders of Chile and Colombia went further, accusing the US president of lying and urging other nations to resist US pressure to abandon climate commitments.
Chile’s environment minister, Maisa Rojas, said the scientific evidence was undeniable and that distorting facts endangered global cooperation. Her remarks drew strong applause, yet unity on concrete action remains elusive.
Only a small number of heads of state have arrived in Belém. Most countries have failed to submit updated plans to reduce carbon emissions, the main cause of global heating.
UK pulls out of key rainforest fund
Starmer acknowledged declining global support for climate efforts but reaffirmed Britain’s commitment, saying, “My message is that the UK is all-in.” Yet his words rang hollow after the UK withdrew from a $125 billion fund designed to protect the world’s rainforests, dealing a major blow to the Brazilian hosts.
President Lula had hoped to raise $25 billion from public sources, mainly developed nations, for the Tropical Forests Forever Facility. The fund aims to support countries safeguarding vital ecosystems such as the Amazon and Congo Basin. These forests cover only six percent of Earth’s land yet store billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases and shelter half the planet’s species.
Britain’s withdrawal stunned many because it had helped design the initiative and had previously launched a global pledge to end deforestation by 2030 at the Glasgow summit in 2021. Former environment minister Lord Zach Goldsmith said the expectation was that the UK would play a leading role, but its sudden exit has angered Brazil. “The government here is furious behind the scenes,” he said in an interview.
Prince William calls for urgent optimism
The UK’s decision also contrasts with the stance of the Prince of Wales, who praised the rainforest fund as “a visionary step toward valuing nature’s role in climate stability.” He even shortlisted it for his £1 million Earthshot Prize.
Addressing the summit, Prince William urged leaders to act with “urgent optimism.” He said humanity had the creativity and determination to overcome the climate crisis. “Let us rise to this moment with the clarity that history demands of us,” he declared. “Let us be the generation that turned the tide—not for applause, but for the quiet gratitude of those yet to be born.”
Extreme weather underscores urgency
Starting Monday, countries will spend two weeks negotiating how to raise long-promised funds for those already suffering from the worst effects of climate change. The urgency is underscored by recent disasters.
Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Caribbean, killed more than 75 people last week. Scientists at Imperial College found that climate change intensified the hurricane’s rainfall by 16 percent.
As leaders debate in Belém, the world continues to face deadly reminders of inaction—and growing impatience for change.
