Flagship

Private firms largely absent at COP

The absence of the US and international private capital could lead to a muted COP30, which opens today in Brazil. Even if Washington is expected to be largely missing, US President Donald Trump will have a huge influence at the world’s most important climate conference. Since the start of his second term, Trump has pushed for a green energy retreat, which has slowed the global transition from fossil fuels and trimmed investors’ interest in the summit. Countless other challenges remain, including a lack of momentum towards greater funding for climate adaptation in the most vulnerable nations. “Adaptation action has never been more vital for our survival,” the CEO of COP and a former UN secretary general wrote in Politico.

The world’s biggest climate and energy decisions are being made this week at COP30. Semafor Climate & Energy Editor Tim McDonnell is on the ground, tracking every key moment, meeting, and deal shaping the next chapter of global policy. Get an insider look at what world leaders are debating — and how the energy transition will be affected — in this week’s editions of Semafor Energy.

US boycotts S. Africa G20

US President Donald Trump says none of his officials would attend this month’s G20 summit in Johannesburg, deepening a row with Africa’s biggest economy over its alleged mistreatment of its white minority. Trump has for months railed against what he calls a “genocide” waged against Afrikaners, imposing harsh tariffs against South Africa and reorienting his country’s refugee policy to favor the group. And though he himself was not expected to attend the meeting — the first time the G20 has been held in Africa — his vice president and secretary of state were presumed to be joining. Pretoria called the decision “regrettable,” and experts have roundly described the US allegations of persecution as baseless.

Lawmakers move to end US shutdown

US lawmakers took a major step toward resolving the country’s record-breaking government shutdown, which has already threatened food assistance for millions and caused air travel mayhem. Several Democrats voted with Republicans to advance legislation to end the shutdown, winning a guarantee for a vote on extending health care subsidies, the issue at the center of the row. Economists warn that though the shutdown’s impact has so far been limited, that could change the longer it drags out: Consumer sentiment plunged last week, while some 750,000 workers have been furloughed. And despite the latest vote, tensions between the two parties remain: “Hopefully we’ll negotiate… something that’s really going to make [Republicans] squirm,” one Democratic senator told Semafor.

BBC chief quits over Trump reporting

The BBC’s director general resigned over a report suggesting the broadcaster had misleadingly edited a speech by US President Donald Trump. The internal memo, uncovered by The Daily Telegraph, said that a 2024 documentary stitched together two quotes from Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021 address, making it seem as though he explicitly encouraged the attack on the Capitol; the author also suggested there was bias elsewhere in BBC reporting, including over Israel-Palestine and transgender issues. The BBC appears not to have learned a lesson that US journalism has internalized over the past decade on how to cover Trump, Semafor’s Max Tani wrote: American outlets expect pushback from the president, and his “aggression has forced many newsrooms to button up their reporting.”

China-US tensions ease further

China and the US suspended port fees on each other’s vessels, a sign the two nations’ fragile trade truce was holding. Washington had imposed levies on Chinese-built or -operated vessels, saying it was intended to protect US shipping and shipbuilding, leading to Beijing’s retaliation. But tensions have eased, with China recently pausing export controls on vital minerals and the US reducing tariffs. The end to the port fees is welcome, but the US is still highly exposed to China’s industrial might: “Last year, US shipyards built just five oceangoing vessels,” Semafor’s Andy Browne noted. “China built as many as 1,700.” Any trade fight is “unwinnable” for Washington, he said, if Beijing starts weaponizing its industrial strengths.

China leads US in global research

China is increasingly leading the US as the center of global research, and cuts and restrictions on skilled migration are hampering Washington’s fightback. In 2023, China took the top spot from the US on a Nature database ranking countries and institutions on their contribution to high-quality science, and its lead increased hugely last year. STEM researchers — especially those of Chinese descent — are leaving the US for China, The Washington Post reported, attracted by funding and research visas, while overseas scientists increasingly feel unwelcome at US institutions. A proposed Congressional ban on funding for US-Chinese collaborations could worsen the situation, researchers told Science.

Indonesia’s divisive leader honored

Indonesia’s president named the country’s late former ruler — whose time in power was characterized by corruption, rights abuses, and economic growth — a national hero. Suharto, who is also the current leader’s father-in-law, came to power following brutal bloodletting in 1965 in which at least half a million people alleged to be communists were killed, and critics point to widespread reports of torture and forced disappearances through to his overthrow in 1998. Yet proponents note Indonesia’s economy grew at an average rate of 7% during his rule, and he largely corralled inflation. That he was conferred the honor by a president who himself is accused of rights abuses amplified anger over the announcement, though public protests have so far been muted.

Private jet pushback

The rise of private jets has led to growing restrictions and taxes on the industry. Tech moguls flying to Lisbon for a conference had to land 140 miles away in Spain because of a shortage of landing slots, while Spain is mulling a tax on private jets. Personal aircraft use is popular among tech founders — “it’s the new Lamborghini,” one executive told the Financial Times — and jet rental businesses are flourishing, but their visible display of wealth and climate impacts have drawn public anger. The moves foreshadow an expected declaration at COP30 to increase levies on private jets and premium-class flying, with proceeds going to climate-vulnerable nations. The push is far from universal, though: Canada is going in the other direction.

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