Global Leaders Challenge Trump’s Climate Legacy at COP30 Summit

World leaders gathered at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, delivered pointed criticism of former President Donald Trump’s environmental policies, highlighting the ongoing political tensions surrounding international climate action.

During the high-stakes summit, multiple heads of state and government officials directly addressed Trump’s track record on climate change, including his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement during his presidency and his administration’s rollback of numerous environmental regulations. The criticism comes as global leaders work to accelerate climate commitments and address the mounting urgency of the climate crisis.

The choice of Belém as the host city for COP30 carries particular significance, as the Amazon gateway city sits at the heart of the world’s largest tropical rainforest—a critical carbon sink that has faced increasing deforestation pressures. Leaders emphasized the need for sustained, long-term climate commitments that transcend political changes in major emitting countries.

The pointed remarks reflect broader concerns about climate policy continuity and the potential impact of changing political leadership on global environmental agreements. As countries work to meet increasingly ambitious carbon reduction targets, many officials stressed the importance of maintaining consistent climate action regardless of electoral outcomes. The summit continues to focus on concrete commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting climate adaptation efforts in vulnerable nations worldwide.