“Certainly, with much regret,” said Montenegro to journalists, on the sidelines of the first day of the leaders’ summit preceding the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in the Brazilian Amazon city of Belém.
Nonetheless, Luís Montenegro emphasized that the absence of the U.S. delegation “does not compromise the COP because it is very impactful in terms of the broad participation from all continents, from all geographies of the world.”
The Portuguese government leader noted, however, that Portugal will continue to “raise awareness among all, and especially the United States of America, to return to these objectives.”
“The United States is necessary in this collective and universal safeguarding journey, which is managing climate change, preserving environmental sustainability for those who will follow us, and it is not with more heated exchanges of arguments that we will manage to come closer,” he considered.
The Amazonian city of Belém, founded by the Portuguese on January 12, 1616, will gather delegations from 143 countries between today and Friday, of which just over a third will be led by their respective national leaders, with the confirmed absence of the leaders of the world’s three largest polluting countries (China, the United States, and India).
Despite Xi Jinping’s absence, China is represented by Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, while India, according to a source from the Brazilian presidency, will be represented by its diplomatic corps in the country.
Convened by Brazilian President Lula da Silva, the meeting is viewed by Brazilian diplomacy as a central milestone in the process of mobilization and international dialogue on the climate agenda, preceding the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, from November 10 to 21, also in Belém.
