Time running out
Brazil is pressing countries to put forward updated climate pledges before a looming September deadline, warning that delays could undermine progress at November’s Cop30 summit. So far, only 28 governments have submitted plans, with key polluters such as China and the European Union yet to do so.
UN requires pledges for global review
The UN has asked all nations to submit their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by 25 September, in time to prepare a synthesis report. This assessment will reveal how far current commitments fall short of the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting warming to 1.5C.
Brazil steps up diplomacy
André Corrêa do Lago, Brazil’s climate envoy and president of Cop30, urged governments to treat their climate plans as a blueprint for a safer, fairer future. He stressed that if pledges are weak, negotiators in Belém will need to push further. Brazil’s president Lula da Silva has already engaged directly with China’s Xi Jinping on the issue.
Concerns over Belém preparations
Hosting Cop30 in the Amazon city of Belém has sparked worries over logistics. With around 50,000 participants expected but limited hotel capacity, prices have surged, leaving poorer nations and civil society groups at risk of exclusion. Cruise ships and rental programs are being arranged, but questions remain about the city’s readiness.
