Governor of host state for COP30 hopes to count on Trump at the convention
20 de January de 2025
By Ana Cláudia Leocádio – From Cenarium
BRASÍLIA (DF) – The Governor of the State of Pará, Helder Barbalho (MDB), welcomed the possesion of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, on Monday, January 20, and expressed hope for the attendance of the U.S. leader at the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) to discuss the future of the planet. The event will be held in Belém (PA) in November of this year.
As the President of the Interstate Consortium for Sustainable Development of the Legal Amazon (CAL) and host of COP30, Barbalho extended the invitation on the same day Trump took office as the 47th President of the United States.
“The United States is the world’s largest economic power and Brazil’s greatest partner in the Americas. We welcome the inauguration of President @realDonaldTrump and look forward to his presence at COP30 to discuss the future of the planet,” the governor wrote.
Known for denying the effects of climate change on the planet, Trump’s second term is being met with apprehension by environmentalists, given the risks of dismantling environmental and climate policies.
In his first term, the Republican leader withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, approved at COP21 in 2015, whose primary goal was to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change and enhance countries’ capacities to deal with its impacts. The U.S. rejoined the agreement under Joe Biden, who is now leaving the White House.
During a visit to Manaus in November 2024, Biden stated that he was leaving his successor with a strong foundation for climate policies.
“I’m leaving the presidency in January, leaving my successor with a very strong foundation if they choose to follow this path. Some may deny or delay the clean energy revolution happening in the U.S., but no one can reverse it,” Biden declared after flying over the Amazon rainforest. On that occasion, he formalized an additional $50 million (R$289.5 million) contribution to the Amazon Fund.
“The question is: which government will impede this [revolution], and which will seize this immense economic opportunity?” he questioned. During his visit, Biden formalized the contribution of an additional $50 million (R$289.5 million) to the Amazon Fund and emphasized that “it is not necessary to choose between the economy and the environment.“
Scientist Sees Unfavorable Scenario with Trump
In an article published on the Infoamazônia portal, Paulo Artaxo, scientist, professor, and head of the Department of Applied Physics at the Institute of Physics of the University of São Paulo (USP), warned about what Donald Trump’s administration might mean for the environment and the Amazon.
“With Trump, it is likely there will be an intensification of fossil fuel use, which could jeopardize the U.S.’s energy transition. Meanwhile, the world is already on an alarming climate trajectory, with forecasts of an average warming of 3.1°C, far beyond the targets set to limit the impacts of climate change,” he stated.
In addition to reduced commitments to global climate agreements safeguarding forests, Artaxo also predicts cuts in funding and financial support for conservation projects.
“There is an expected weakening of international mechanisms for monitoring deforestation, leading to less pressure to combat illegal deforestation. Such changes could also harm trade partnerships requiring environmental commitments, affecting agreements and sustainable commercial relations, such as the Amazon Fund,” he emphasized.
Belém Prepares for COP30
On his social media platforms, Helder Barbalho has been updating his followers on the preparations underway in Belém for COP30, scheduled for November this year. The preparations include urban infrastructure, mobility, and sanitation projects.
With federal government support, the city plans to increase its hotel capacity by docking cruise ships. According to the Pará Agency of News, the works on the Parque da Cidade, which will serve as the main venue for the event, are already 70% complete.
According to estimates by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), more than 40,000 visitors are expected during the main days of the Conference. Of this total, approximately 7,000 will be part of the so-called “COP family,” comprising United Nations (UN) teams and member country delegations.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has already stated that this Climate Conference in Brazil will differ from all others. “It’s one thing to discuss the Amazon in Egypt, another to discuss the Amazon in Berlin or Paris. But now, no. Now we are going to discuss the importance of the Amazon within the Amazon. We are going to address indigenous issues while seeing the indigenous people. We are going to discuss the situation of riverine communities while seeing these communities and how they live,” he declared.
Brazil aims to reaffirm its leadership role in negotiations on climate change and global sustainability, but there is concern over a potential loss of engagement by world leaders, encouraged by Trump, as happened in November 2024 at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Key Topics to Be Discussed at COP30:
- Climate justice and the social impacts of climate change;
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
- Adaptation to climate change;
- Climate financing for developing countries;
- Renewable energy technologies and low-carbon solutions;
- Preservation of forests and biodiversity.