COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago emphasizes the need for countries to set ambitious emissions targets as deadlines for new goals approach. With critical nations yet to announce their plans, Brazil aims to lead climate discussions and calls for increased financial aid to developing countries. The conference will also address various paths to sustainable energy transition.
In an interview with AFP, Andre Correa do Lago, the president of the upcoming COP30 conference in Brazil, asserted that nations should set the most ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets possible. With the February 10 deadline for the Paris Agreement signatories to announce their 2035 targets approaching, countries such as the European Union and China have yet to submit their goals. The conference, taking place in Belem, marks a significant event as it will be held in a region crucial to global climate health, the Amazon.
The COP30 meeting follows the recent withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, with Correa do Lago stating that channels for discussion with the U.S. remain open, including through the G20 and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Furthermore, the last conference in Azerbaijan resulted in a contentious agreement concerning climate financing, which recognized a need for wealthy nations to increase their financial support to developing countries. Correa do Lago emphasized the objective of raising annual financial aid from $300 billion to $1.3 trillion.
Brazil’s approach to climate action under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva includes a focus on reducing deforestation in the Amazon; however, Lula’s administration has faced criticism for advocating increased oil exploration in ecologically sensitive areas. Correa do Lago acknowledged that transitions to sustainable energy differ by country, often necessitating complex paths, citing Germany’s previous reliance on coal after its nuclear phase-out as an example of this challenge.
The COP (Conference of the Parties) climate conferences are crucial international forums where countries negotiate actions to combat climate change. The Paris Agreement, created in 2015, aims to limit global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. As societies confront various impacts of climate change, nations are held accountable for their emissions and encouraged to raise their commitments regularly. COP30, set to be held in Brazil, signifies a pivotal moment, especially with the historic focus on the Amazon’s vitality for global ecological stability.
In summary, Andre Correa do Lago urged countries to pursue ambitious emissions targets as the deadline for announcing goals under the Paris Agreement nears. The COP30 conference represents a significant opportunity for the international community, particularly in addressing the financial aspects of climate action and acknowledging the diverse pathways nations must take toward sustainability. Brazil is positioning itself as a leader in these negotiations, balancing its environmental commitments with domestic energy resource development.
Original Source: www.france24.com
