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The world's top climate official acknowledged progress in combating climate change but called for accelerated efforts as nations prepare to gather in the Brazilian Amazon for crucial talks on meeting international climate goals.
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said the Paris Agreement has delivered tangible results while stressing the need for greater urgency ahead of the 30th Conference of the Parties, set to begin Monday in Belem, Brazil.
"On the eve of COP30, one thing is very clear. The Paris Agreement is delivering real progress, but we need to speed up in the Amazon," Stiell said in a statement released before the conference.
The summit, running through Nov. 21 in the capital of Pará state, has been dubbed the "Amazon COP" due to Belem's position as a gateway to the Amazon rainforest. The gathering marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the landmark 2015 accord that committed nations to limiting global temperature rise.
Stiell outlined three key objectives for the conference, emphasizing the devastating impacts of climate change worldwide.
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"COP must achieve three things," he said. "It must send a clear message, countries must be fully committed to climate cooperation, which means reaching strong conclusions on all key issues. Implementation must accelerate across all sectors of all economies. Additionally, climate action must connect with people's real lives. This way, benefits such as stronger growth, more employment, less pollution, better health and more affordable, secure energy can spread."
Negotiations in Belém will focus on several critical issues, including new Nationally Determined Contributions — the pledges countries make to reduce emissions — climate finance, and forest protection.
The conference comes as countries face mounting pressure to strengthen their climate commitments and deliver on existing promises made under the Paris framework.
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