COP30: US not sending any high-level officials — White House

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🗞️ Driving the news: The White House has confirmed that no senior U.S. officials will attend COP30, the UN climate summit starting November 10 in Belem, Brazil
• The announcement follows President Donald Trump's recent statements dismissing climate change as the “greatest con job” and comes as his administration advances policies favoring fossil fuel expansion and prepares to withdraw from the Paris Agreement in January 2026

🔭 The context: This marks the second U.S. withdrawal from the Paris accord under Trump, who also exited during his first term before rejoining was initiated under President Biden
• Since returning to office, Trump has reversed several climate policies, promoting oil, gas, and coal development
• COP30 will be the first climate summit held in the Amazon region and is expected to prioritize rainforest protection and climate finance

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The absence of U.S. leadership at COP30 undermines multilateral efforts to address the climate crisis at a time when global emissions must rapidly decline to stay within 1.5°C limits
• It also risks stalling negotiations on critical issues such as climate finance, plastic pollution reduction, and deforestation
• With the U.S. as the world’s second-largest emitter and a key global funder, its disengagement threatens coordinated action at a crucial moment for climate diplomacy and forest protection

⏭️ What's next: COP30 will proceed with global delegates focused on operationalizing climate finance commitments, notably Brazil’s proposed $125 billion Tropical Forest Forever Facility
• Iinternational stakeholders will watch for shifts in U.S. domestic climate litigation and state-level initiatives that may diverge from federal policy
• Lula’s Brazil is expected to assume a more prominent leadership role, while China, the EU, and other blocs may fill the diplomatic gap left by Washington

💬 One quote: “The tide is turning,” said a U.S. administration official, citing a memo by Bill Gates urging a rethinking of global climate goals. “Climate change will not lead to humanity’s demise”

📈 One stat: An estimated 546,000 people died annually from heat exposure between 2012 and 2021, according to The Lancet Countdown on health and climate, with 154,000 deaths linked to wildfire smoke in 2024 alone

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