COP30 in Belém:

The world faces a defining climate crossroad

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As the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) under the UNFCCC convenes in Belém, Brazil - home to the Amazon rainforest — world leaders face a critical and defining moment.

President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, set a determined tone ahead of the COP30 Summit last week, urging the establishment of a global roadmap to end fossil-fuel dependence and fulfill international commitments: tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030.

President Lula da Silva warned, "The Earth can no longer sustain the development model based on the intensive use of fossil fuels that has prevailed for the past 200 years" and pressed leaders to decide "whether the 21st century will be remembered as the century of climate catastrophe - or as the moment of intelligent reconstruction."

The conference's central theme this year is 'turning climate commitments into action,' signaling a long-overdue shift from empty promises to demonstrable practice.

This immediate action is vital for our agrarian fields, sea coasts, and vulnerable cities where climate change is already profoundly reshaping lives.

This calls for immediate action spanning four critical sectors:

Protecting agriculture: Moving from negotiation tables to immediate, on-the-ground support to enhance the resilience of agrarian fields. This is crucial as shifting rainfall patterns and extreme weather events directly threaten food security and livelihoods.

Securing coasts: Implementing immediate, protective measures for vulnerable sea coasts, which are currently grappling with rising sea levels and intensifying storm surges.

Transforming cities: Driving the sustainable transformation of vulnerable urban centers. These cities face compounded risks from heatwaves, flooding, and severe strain on essential services.