Countdown to September deadline
Brazil has issued an urgent appeal for governments to put forward stronger climate pledges before the UN’s Cop30 summit in November. To date, only 28 countries have sent in their proposals, while key polluters such as China and the European Union remain absent.
UN report depends on submissions
The UN has set 25 September as the cut-off date for countries to hand in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). These commitments will be used to compile a synthesis report showing whether the world is on course—or far off track—from the 1.5C global warming target agreed in Paris.
Diplomatic push from Brazil
André Corrêa do Lago, Brazil’s climate envoy and president of Cop30, has written to governments stressing the importance of ambitious plans. He warned that weak pledges would force tough negotiations at the summit. President Lula da Silva has also been pressing the issue in high-level talks, including a recent call with Chinese president Xi Jinping.
Logistical concerns cloud summit
Brazil is also facing criticism over the choice of Belém, the Amazonian city hosting Cop30. With only 18,000 hotel rooms but an expected 50,000 visitors, accommodation is scarce and costly, with some prices surpassing $1,000 a night. The government has arranged cruise ships and rental platforms, but poorer nations and civil society groups fear being squeezed out.
