BELÉM, Brazil – Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets surrounding the COP30 climate summit in Belém on Saturday, urging world leaders to accelerate action on climate change. The march unfolded as negotiations continue, marked by a notable absence of the United States and concerns over the influence of industry lobbyists.
The gathering underscores growing public pressure for concrete commitments to reduce emissions and aid vulnerable nations in adapting to the escalating impacts of global warming.With the summit aiming to translate years of pledges into tangible results, the exhibition highlights the urgency felt by activists and communities already experiencing climate-related crises. This year’s summit features a 12% increase in lobbyists – numbering approximately 1,600 - compared to the previous COP meeting, raising questions about the balance of influence at the negotiations.
A key challenge at COP30 is the united States’ limited participation. For the first time, the country has not sent a formal delegation, following President Donald Trump’s previous dismissal of climate change as “a con.” This absence is contributing to slow progress in negotiations.
In response to concerns about misinformation surrounding climate science, ten countries have endorsed the Declaration on Data Integrity on Climate Change, launched at COP30 by the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change. The initiative seeks to establish international commitments to combat climate disinformation and prioritize evidence-based information.
Brazil, as host, has pledged to drive the summit toward concrete action on both mitigating climate change and supporting adaptation efforts in nations facing its consequences. Negotiations are expected to continue throughout next week. Earlier in the week, a coalition of climate leaders issued a letter emphasizing the importance of upholding scientific facts throughout the summit.
