Cop30 climate summit begins in brazil without u.s. Federal participation as nearly 200 nations tackle global warming crisis

The world’s most critical climate negotiations are now underway in Belém, Brazil, where delegates from nearly 200 countries have converged for COP30, the annual United Nations climate change conference. This year’s summit carries particular significance as nations grapple with increasingly urgent environmental challenges and the need for coordinated global action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

However, one notable absence looms large over the proceedings: the United States has sent no official federal delegation to participate in the talks. This diplomatic gap stems from President Donald Trump’s well-documented skepticism toward climate science, including his September address to the U.N. General Assembly where he characterized climate change as the “greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.”

The U.S. absence creates both challenges and opportunities for the remaining nations as they work to forge agreements on emissions targets, climate financing, and adaptation strategies. Without American federal participation, other major economies may need to take stronger leadership roles in driving international climate policy forward.

Behind the scenes, journalists and climate experts are closely monitoring how this dynamic will affect the summit’s outcomes. Executive editor Vernon Loeb and climate science reporter Bob Berwyn are providing in-depth coverage of the key issues shaping this year’s agenda, offering crucial insights into the negotiations that could determine the trajectory of global climate action for years to come. The stakes remain high as the world continues to face mounting evidence of climate impacts worldwide.