Rich Nations Losing Drive on Climate Action, Says COP30 President

Rich Nations Losing Drive on Climate Action, Says COP30 President
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Wealthy nations are losing momentum in tackling the climate crisis while China is advancing rapidly in clean energy production and deployment,The Guardian reported. André Corrêa do Lago, Brazil’s top diplomat and president of the upcoming COP30 climate summit, said richer countries should emulate China’s progress rather than complain about competition. Speaking in Belém, the Amazonian host city for the two-week conference, he noted that enthusiasm for climate action in the global north has waned, even as the global south pushes forward.

China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is also the leading producer and user of renewable energy technologies. Corrêa do Lago highlighted China’s contribution to making solar power cheaper and more accessible, calling it a positive step for climate mitigation. COP30 will gather representatives from 194 nations to map out a strategy for limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C, phasing out fossil fuels, and securing financial support for vulnerable nations.

Small island states, led by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), are demanding stronger emission-cutting commitments, warning that progress so far has been inadequate. Meanwhile, data from satellite firm Kayrros shows that methane emissions among major signatories of the 2021 Global Methane Pledge — including the US, Iraq, and Australia — have risen 8.5% since 2020. Experts warn that voluntary pledges are insufficient, calling instead for a binding global agreement to curb methane, a gas far more potent than carbon dioxide.