“COP30” continues international attempts to combat climate change

The United Nations climate conference “COP 30”, held in the Brazilian city of Belem, which is organized every year, begins today to discuss the most prominent global efforts to save the world from climate change and its harms. It was preceded on Thursday by a meeting in the same city in which leaders admitted their failure to prevent the Earth’s temperature from rising by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

What is noteworthy is the withdrawal of the major countries from playing their leadership role in this important file, most notably the United States, which previously withdrew from the Paris Agreement, while the “Group of 77 and China,” the “Africa Group,” and the “BASIC Group,” which includes Brazil, South Africa, and China participated.

What does the term “cup” mean?

The annual conference is known as COP, an abbreviation of the term “Conference of the Parties (COP),” which refers to the signatory countries of the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that committed countries to work together to combat the climate change crisis facing all countries.

One of the most important principles of the agreement is the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” which means that the greatest responsibility for solving the problem falls on the rich countries, which are responsible for most of the emissions causing the planet’s temperature to rise.

The rotating presidency, now represented by Brazil, sets the summit's agenda and throughout the year mobilizes governments toward common action and goals. The two-week summit will then begin, bringing the issue to global attention and giving leaders of countries an opportunity to exchange ideas and hold each other accountable.

Over the years, the annual summit has become a major hub for geopolitical and financial discussions, highlighting the idea of a “global village” that welcomes all countries, civil society organisations, companies and financiers.

Returning to first principles after admitting failure

Brazil called for the event to return this year to its first principles of recognizing the most vulnerable groups in the world, such as indigenous groups, with some of these groups joining the talks, and called on countries to work to fulfill previous pledges, such as the “COP28” pledges to phase out the use of harmful fossil fuels, instead of making new promises.

The admission of failure to achieve the previous goal of trying to prevent the global temperature from rising by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius in the “COP30” version is the first of its kind.

Brazil chose the city of Belem, located in the Amazon region, to hold the “COP30” conference, hoping to confirm the importance of the world’s forests, which are still targeted due to deforestation, and industrial services, including mining, agriculture, and fossil fuel extraction, which is one of the causes of global warming and climate change.

Financial support to protect forests and reduce climate change

Brazil seeks to make new effective decisions in Belém, not just symbolic decisions, and also called for the follow-up of previous promises, especially regarding the development of renewable energy sources.

Brasilia launched an investment fund to protect forests, and pledged to allocate $1 billion to it. Norway also offered to allocate three times this amount and confirmed in a statement that Indonesia would contribute $1 billion.

As for Berlin, it also decided to contribute an amount that has not yet been announced, while French President Emmanuel Macron announced that by 2030, France will provide additional support worth 500 million euros, which can be contributed to the fund.

194 countries are participating in the climate conference, but the United States, which is the second largest polluter in the world, will not send a delegation to represent it, which is a relief for those who fear that the Trump administration will obstruct what the participating countries have intended, especially after what it recently issued to thwart a global plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport.

Deaths in the thousands as a result of climate change

According to a study conducted by British researchers that revealed that more than 15,000 deaths in various European cities are directly related to climate change and its repercussions. The study focused on 854 European cities and came up with the result that 68% of deaths related to high temperatures were caused by climate change, which reflects the impact of global warming on public health in the Old Continent.

 The researchers found that temperatures were 2.2 degrees Celsius higher than due to climate change. The study showed high death rates in cities such as Paris, Athens, and Rome. Most deaths were among elderly people over the age of 65. The researchers also indicated that the actual numbers may be higher than current estimates.

Climate change has dire effects and consequences that threaten human life on planet Earth, and theThe Earth Guards Foundation confirms that there must be an end to negotiations and a move toward intensive, effective action to reduce the negative effects caused by rising temperatures, for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable life for all human beings.