|
Seth Borenstein and Melina Walling, The Associated Press
The world’s media carries extensive coverage ahead of the official opening of the COP30 UN climate talks in Belém, Brazil, later today. The Associated Press says the talks, on the “edge of the Brazilian Amazon”, were expecting to see “leaders pushing for urgency, cooperation and acceleration”, but adds that the US will be absent. The newswire quotes André Corrêa do Lago, president-elect of COP30, writing in a letter to negotiators yesterday: “Either we decide to change by choice, together, or we will be imposed change by tragedy…We can change. But we must do it together.” It says do Lago “emphasised that negotiators engage in ‘mutirão’, a Brazilian word derived from an Indigenous word that refers to a group uniting to work on a shared task”. The Guardian previews “Brazil’s unorthodox approach” to the summit and says: “Host uses Indigenous concepts and changes agenda to help delegates agree on ways to meet existing climate goals.” Brazil’s O Globo says the summit will host 60,000 people.
BBC News carries a preview of COP30 asking: “[D]oes the summit still have a point?” Another Guardian article is headlined: “Rich countries have lost enthusiasm for tackling [the] climate crisis, says COP30 chief.” It reports that do Lago “says countries should follow China’s lead on clean energy”. Agence France-Presse says host-nation Brazil “face the daunting task of keeping global climate cooperation from collapsing”. The Press Association reports: “The latest UN climate talks kick off this week with countries hoping to drive forward action in the face of a major breakdown in global consensus.” The Financial Times trails its extensive COP30 coverage and a related editorial on its frontpage (see comment below). Another Financial Times article is titled: “Muted global business turnout at COP30 reflects subdued mood.” The Guardian explains the “main issues” at COP30. The Guardian also carries a “COP30 jargon buster”, as well as articles looking at the impact of the recent International Court of Justice ruling on the COP and the “balancing act” for Brazil hosting the COP.
Agence France-Presse says the EU’s carbon border tax (CBAM) “is becoming a flashpoint” at COP30. It explains: “Several countries including China, India and Bolivia are targeting the carbon border tax in their request to include ‘unilateral trade measures’ on the agenda at COP30, which opens Monday in Brazil.” The Economic Times also looks at the “struggle to agree on [the] agenda” for COP30. [Carbon Brief’s Dr Simon Evans has posted a thread on Bluesky explaining the “agenda fight” looming over COP30.]
MORE ON COP30
Agence France-Presse and Reuters report on Indigenous participation at COP30, while Agence France-Presse also reports that the Taliban has not been invited. Bloomberg, the Associated Press, Reuters, Euronews and Press Association carry explainers on what the summit is all about. Reuters also has a piece on the latest climate science ahead of COP30. The New York Times, Climate Home News, Associated Press, Reuters, Sydney Morning Herald, Sky News and CNN are among those publishing retrospectives on how things have changed in the 10 years since the Paris Agreement. The Week, CNBC, Washington Post, Financial Times, New York Times, Politico and others publish articles on the absence of the US from COP30. The Associated Press says: “Trump’s energy secretary slams UN climate conference in Brazil, where US absence is glaring.” The Guardian reports that more than 100 US leaders from states and cities will attend COP30 “as Trump stays away”. The Guardian also reports: “How thousands of fossil fuel lobbyists got access to UN climate talks – and then kept drilling.” The climate-sceptic Daily Mail reprises a theme it seeks to search out every year at COP by claiming that “high-class sex workers…are targeting…COP30”.
Nina Lakhani, The Guardian
Some 250 million people have been “forcibly displaced” globally over the past decade as a result of “climate-related disasters”, the Guardian says, covering a report from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). It continues: “Floods, storms, drought and extreme heat are among the weather conditions driving conflict and displacement, alongside slow-onset disasters such as desertification, rising sea levels and ecosystem destruction, which are threatening food and water security.” The newspaper quotes the UN report calling climate change a “risk multiplier” and says it has “exposed and compounded existing inequalities and injustices”. It adds: “Three-quarters of refugees and other displaced people now live in countries facing high or extreme exposure to climate-related hazards, with repeated displacement becoming increasingly common.” Agence France-Presse covers the report under the headline: “UN says refugees stuck in vicious cycle of conflict and climate.”
Jim Gomez, The Associated Press
The Philippines was hit overnight by Typhoon Fung-wong, killing at least two people and displacing more than 1.4 million others, the Associated Press reports. It was the 21st storm of 2025 to hit the Philippines, Reuters says. BBC News reports: “The country's meteorological service warned of destructive winds and ‘high-risk of life-threatening’ storm surges from the ‘very intense’ typhoon. Fung-wong – known locally as Uwan – comes days after earlier storm Kalmaegi left nearly 200 people dead.” It adds: “Climate change is not thought to increase the number of hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones worldwide. However, warmer oceans coupled with a warmer atmosphere – fuelled by climate change – have the potential to make those that do form even more intense. That can potentially lead to higher wind speeds, heavier rainfall and a greater risk of coastal flooding.” Nikkei Asia, the South China Morning Post and Washington Post also have the story.
MORE ON EXTREME WEATHER
The Associated Press: “Iranian capital faces water rationing and evacuations if it doesn’t rain soon, president warns.” The Guardian says England is “facing drastic measures due to extreme drought next year”. BBC News says the UK just recorded its “warmest ever Bonfire night”. The
|
