COP30, by Curt Bergsten, 07-11-25
Belém, in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, serves as the setting for a summit surrounded by environmental urgency… and political disinterest, this year, with a sharp drop in the presence of world leaders.
I have now followed the COP conferences for over 10 years and unfortunately with decreasing interest. The idea from the beginning was to reduce toxic emissions and generally improve the environmental issue globally. This has failed so far and only huge funds have been formed that are distributed to certain developing countries that are run by dictatorships or military powers. Personally, I do not see COP30 in Brazil changing the course of events. A large number of important leaders from major countries are not participating this time, which means that the decisions made have less significance.
The list of participants will be relatively small. Brazil has confirmed 57 heads of state and government, with representation from 143 countries, including Spain, who represent the intervention between the different events of nearly 60,000 people. Being relevant figures, they are lower than those of recent years, continuing the downward trend in terms of the convening power of the COPs that was already seen in the 2024 COP in Baku (Azerbaijan).
What is contradictory to the environment is that a guaranteed number of 60,000 participants, as well as the other 20,000 journalists and news monitors, travel from all over the world by jet. Wouldn’t it be time to organize an online meeting, to show interest in preserving the environment?
I will report back when there are results from the first days of meetings.
Thanks for reading my post,
#Windmush / #curtbergsten
