The South at the centre

When President Lula da Silva announced in 2023 that Brazil would host COP30 in Belem — the capital of Para, better known for its rivers, forests and Amazonian air than for roads, hotels or meeting halls — many Brazilians were surprised. Most people doubted whether the city could host one of the largest gatherings in the world. Yet for the past 10 days, world leaders, scientists, activists, diplomats, and fossil fuel lobbyists have been flying into this city as delegates from about 200 countries to debate the climate crisis. For the first time, the UN Climate Conference is taking place on the doorstep of a region — the Amazon — that embodies both the scale of the problem and the solutions needed to save the planet.

The first week of COP30 ended with major deadlocks unresolved, as talks happened in the shadow of COP29 in Azerbaijan, where rich countries had pledged to provide $300 billion annually to developing countries by 2035. Now, the rich world is dragging its feet, while the Global South is stepping in. Andre Correa do Lago, the Brazilian diplomat presiding over COP30, summarised the mood on the eve of the meeting’s opening: “Somehow the reduction in enthusiasm of the Global North is showing that the Global South is moving. It is not just this year, it has been moving for years, but it did not have the exposure that it has now,” Mr. Correa do Lago said last Monday.

Fractured front

However, COP30 is buzzing with debates and activities even as the rich world takes a back seat on emissions reduction and financing the climate action plan to the tune of $1.3 trillion by 2035. This year, the U.S. — historically the world’s biggest emitter — quit the Paris Agreement; and the White House has not sent a delegation to Belem. Europe is present but divided, with its 2040 targets stalled by political infighting and a rising far-right, forcing the EU governments to retreat from their commitments.

But the Global South — led by Brazil — is not playing the victim. It has responded with ambition. During the past week’s deliberations, Brazil has placed people, knowledge, and culture at the centre of COP30. In a dialogue with civil society, Mr. Correa do Lago stressed that climate action “is built through cooperation among peoples” to ensure that the energy transition creates jobs and reduces inequalities. The host country has launched several initiatives: the “Belem Health Action Plan” puts climate-resilient health systems at the core of adaptation, while a “Green Education” proposal highlights how teachers and students can prepare their societies for a world which is getting hotter. Brazil has also launched a “Commitment Letter”, backed by 130 organisations, to combat climate misinformation globally.

COP30 is shaping up to be the most ambitious climate conference yet, with far bigger goals. The best example is the “Belem Declaration for Green Industrialisation”, which calls on nations to accelerate energy transition while creating new green-economy opportunities, especially for developing countries. Its core message is clear: without strong and inclusive economic growth, true decarbonisation will not occur. Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin summed it up on Friday: “Climate goals must go hand in hand with real economic transformation… ensuring that all countries, especially those in the Global South, can lead and benefit from this new era of sustainable prosperity.”

At the inauguration of COP30, President Lula had declared that Belem “will not be the same city” once the meeting ends. For Brazil, the new roads, transit corridors, and bigger airport are not just cosmetic changes; they have succeeded in placing the Amazon at the centre of global climate discourse. With negotiations running until November 21, Brazil is now pushing for COP30 to give a clear blue-print for a better climate action plan.

Belem, a city once doubted for its capacity to host a global meeting, may end up adopting the declaration named after it — and deliver a solution the world needs desperately.