Secretary-General’s Activities in Brazil from 5 to 8 November

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Belém, Brazil, on the night of November 5 to participate in the thirtieth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP30. During his address at the Belém Climate Summit, Guterres emphasized the urgent need for action to address climate change, warning that a temporary overshoot of the critical 1.5°C threshold is now inevitable. He called for a fundamental shift in approach to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect vital ecosystems like tropical forests and oceans.

Addressing Climate Change Challenges

On November 6, Guterres spoke at the Plenary of Leaders, where he candidly acknowledged the global failure to keep temperature rises below 1.5°C. He pointed out that scientific evidence indicates a temporary overshoot is unavoidable, likely beginning in the early 2030s. Guterres warned that even a brief exceedance of this limit would lead to severe consequences, including increased hunger, displacement, and economic costs, particularly affecting those least responsible for climate change. His remarks underscored the need for immediate and decisive action to limit the extent and duration of this overshoot.

Later that day, Guterres met with key European leaders, including H.E. Mrs. Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council. These discussions focused on collaborative efforts to combat climate change and the importance of international cooperation in achieving sustainability goals.

Launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility

In the afternoon, Guterres participated in the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, emphasizing the critical role of tropical forests in sustaining life on Earth. He highlighted the ongoing threats these forests face, often viewed as short-term profit opportunities rather than long-term ecological assets. Guterres described the Facility as an innovative approach to enhance the value of standing forests compared to cleared land, advocating for a partnership among governments, development banks, and the private sector to bridge financing gaps and promote sustainable forest economies.

During his engagements, Guterres also met with various leaders, including H.E. Mr. Ding Xuexiang, First-ranked Vice-Premier of China, and H.E. Ms. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. His discussions centered on the importance of protecting natural resources and ensuring that economic growth aligns with environmental sustainability.

Emphasizing Energy Transition and Adaptation

On November 7, Guterres held a bilateral meeting with Türkiye’s Vice-President, Cevdet Yilmaz, before addressing a thematic session on Energy Transition. He noted the rapid changes in the global energy landscape, highlighting that 90% of new power capacity last year came from renewable sources, with investments in clean energy surpassing those in fossil fuels. Guterres stressed the need for accelerated efforts to ensure that all nations benefit from the renewable energy revolution.

Later that day, he co-chaired a roundtable on adaptation with President Lula, engaging with leaders from the Alliance of Small Island States and the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol. Guterres reiterated the inevitability of a temporary temperature overshoot and called for immediate action to manage its scale and duration.

Renewing Commitments at COP30

During a session reflecting on ten years of the Paris Agreement, Guterres urged participants to renew their commitments made in Paris, emphasizing the need for a new decade of implementation and acceleration. He met with local leaders from the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and the Governor of Pará, Helder Zahluth Barbalho, to discuss local climate initiatives.

Guterres concluded his visit with a bilateral meeting with President Lula before departing Belém on November 8. His engagements at COP30 highlighted the urgent need for global cooperation and decisive action to tackle climate change and protect the planet for future generations.

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