The world is at a critical juncture in its fight against climate change, with COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago warning that time is running out to act without unprecedented global cooperation. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he emphasized the urgent need to bridge the political and financial divide between developed and developing nations to address the escalating climate crisis.

Correa do Lago expressed concern over U.S. President Donald Trump’s reluctance to engage in climate negotiations, particularly after Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement for the second time. “We understand that President Trump is not going to listen to me. The problem is that he does not want to talk about the emissions of specific countries,” he stated, highlighting the challenges posed by the U.S. exit, which follows a similar withdrawal during Trump’s first administration before rejoining under President Biden.

The COP30 chief underscored the longstanding divide in climate negotiations, noting that developing countries demand financial and technical support from wealthier nations to pursue cleaner development pathways. “The problem of the negotiation of climate change since the beginning is divided very much between the developed countries and the developing countries,” he said, pointing out that developed nations often push for commitments from developing countries without providing adequate resources. “This divide is very strong,” he added.

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With science indicating a shrinking window to mitigate catastrophic climate impacts, Correa do Lago stressed the need for unity. “We have to try to bridge that, because science tells us we have very little time. The world risks running out of time to act on climate change without cooperation between developed and developing countries,” he warned. He urged a shift in focus from assigning blame to implementing effective solutions that promote cleaner development, create jobs, and improve global quality of life.

The scale of the climate challenge, he noted, has outgrown traditional approaches. “Today, climate change is impacting the entire global economy. Most of our activities will need to be transformed. This is not just about environmental action but about investment, innovation, and building a new economy,” he said, calling for governments, entrepreneurs, and civil society to lead this transformation.

Scheduled for November 2025 in Belem, Brazil, COP30 will be the first UN climate summit hosted in the Amazon region. Correa do Lago emphasized its significance, stating, “COP30 has to be a meeting of the entire world corresponding to the seriousness of the situation.” He highlighted the need for collaborative plans involving governments and civil society to address the economic and social implications of climate change.

Reflecting on the evolution of environmental concerns, he noted that early movements in the 1960s and 1970s focused on pollution, which remains a critical issue. “The agenda started with pollution. Now we talk about climate change, which is a much bigger and more complex phenomenon. But the first direct impact on people is pollution,” he said. He praised progress in Brazil and India, citing Sao Paulo’s success in reducing air pollution through biofuels and India’s similar efforts, while acknowledging the high costs of such solutions and the need for international cooperation to make them accessible.

COP30 CEO Ana Toni reinforced the call for action, emphasizing the intersection of climate, health, and development goals. “At COP30, what we’re trying to achieve is really accelerating actions that help both development, the well-being of people, and prosperity,” she said. Toni highlighted air quality and methane reduction as priorities, noting that cleaner transportation in developing nations could address poverty, protect public health, and reduce emissions simultaneously. “Air pollution and transportation in our cities are not just environmental issues, they are central to development and public health,” she added.

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