TAIPEI (TVBS News) — This year's global climate summit, COP30, kicked off on Nov. 6 (Thursday) Brazil time. World leaders gathered in Belém, Brazil to attend the event, which precedes the negotiations for a climate agreement next week. The contrast between the high-profile summit inside and ongoing construction work on the unfinished venue outside underscores the urgency and challenges of addressing climate change.
Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini of Eswatini urged the United Nations to formally include Taiwan in climate efforts during the summit. This year marks the first time a COP is being held in the Brazilian Amazon. The event has gathered world leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, U.K.'s Prince William, and France's President Emmanuel Macron, among others.
In his speech, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil emphasized the Amazon rainforest's symbolic importance in environmental conservation. He welcomed international leaders to the summit, which takes place at the Hangar Convention and Fair Centre of the Amazon. The venue reportedly resembles a construction site at the moment, with wooden planks still lying around and countries' pavilions not yet finished.
Brazil has launched the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) as a sustainable fund for tropical forest conservation. The initiative aims to secure financial commitments from participating nations following the official opening of COP30 next week. President Lula also hosted a luncheon, inviting countries to join the TFFF, which offers economic incentives to preserve tropical forests rather than cut them down.
The COP30 summit will continue for two days, with official negotiating sessions commencing on Monday (Nov. 10). As preparations proceed amid ongoing construction, the event serves as a reminder of the pressing need for international cooperation in the face of the climate crisis.