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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
COP30 Brazil summit faces uncertainty amid global tensions
Expectations have shifted since Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's initial bid three years ago to bring the summit to the Amazon read more Brazil will host the UN climate conference COP30 in November in the Amazonian city of Belem. AFP This year's UN COP30 summit in Brazil is being viewed as an important moment in the global response to climate change, with the world nearing a critical global warming limit. However, the host country has yet to present a leading agenda for the high-stakes talks scheduled for November, prompting concerns about the event's potential impact. Preparations have been affected by ongoing conflicts in several regions and the United States' recent decisions to step back from international collaboration on climate, trade, and health. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Expectations have shifted since Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's initial bid three years ago to bring the summit to the Amazon. A recent UN climate meeting in Germany, which concluded on Thursday, revealed divisions, particularly on financial commitments, raising further questions about the progress that COP30 might achieve. Brazil is a deft climate negotiator, but the 'international context has never been so bad', said Claudio Angelo, of the Brazilian organisation Climate Observatory. Given the stakes, former UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa said Brazil may have to make do with 'baby steps'. 'One of the main messages that should be coming out of COP30 is the unity of everyone behind multilateralism and international cooperation. Not achieving that means everybody will suffer,' she told AFP. 'Failure is not an option in this case.' 'Survival' Previous COPs have been judged on the deals clinched between the nearly 200 nations that haggle over two weeks to advance global climate policy. Recent summits have produced landmark outcomes, from a global pledge to transition away from fossil fuels, to the creation of a specialised fund to help countries hit by climate disaster. COP30 CEO Ana Toni said that 'most of the big flashy topics' born out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change had been dealt with. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD That leaves Brazil with an arguably harder challenge – trying to ensure what has been agreed is put into practice. Much of the action is set for the COP30 sidelines or before nations arrive in the Amazonian city of Belem. National climate plans due before COP30 from all countries – but most importantly major emitters China, the European Union and India – will be more consequential than this year's negotiations, experts say. It is expected this latest round of national commitments will fall well short of containing global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, and possibly even 2C, the less ambitious of the Paris accord's climate goals. 'I expect that the COP will need to react to that,' said Ana Toni, although what form that reaction would take was 'under question'. Uncertainty about how COP30 will help steer nations towards 1.5C has left the Alliance of Small Island States bloc 'concerned', said lead negotiator Anne Rasmussen. 'Our survival depends on that,' she told AFP. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Threat to humanity' How countries will make good on their promise to transition away from fossil fuels may also become a point of contention. Angelo said he hoped Brazil would champion the idea, included in the country's climate plan, of working towards 'schedules' for that transition. But he likened Brazil's auctioning of oil and gas extraction rights near the mouth of the Amazon river this month – just as climate negotiators got down to business in Bonn – to an act of 'sabotage'. Another key priority for Brazil is forest protection, but otherwise COP30 leaders have mostly focused on unfinished business from previous meetings, including fleshing out a goal to build resilience to climate impacts. According to the hosts of last year's hard-fought climate talks, global tensions might not leave room for much else. 'We need to focus more on preserving the legacy that we have established, rather than increasing ambition,' said Yalchin Rafiyev, top climate negotiator for COP29 host Azerbaijan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He fears that trying and failing to do more could risk undermining the whole UN process. Those close to the climate talks concede they can move frustratingly slowly, but insist the annual negotiations remain crucial. 'I don't think there's any other way to address a threat to humanity as big as this is,' Espinosa told AFP.
Arab News
a day ago
- Business
- Arab News
Global tensions rattle COP30 build-up but ‘failure not an option'
BONN: This year's UN COP30 summit in Brazil was hotly-anticipated as a pivotal moment for the planet, as the world fast approaches a key global warming threshold. But the hosts are yet to propose a headline ambition for the marathon November talks, raising concerns they could fall flat. The build-up has been overshadowed by devastating conflicts on three continents and the US withdrawal from global cooperation on climate, trade and health. Expectations have dimmed since Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's pitch three years ago to host climate talks in the Amazon. A warm-up UN climate event in Germany that concluded on Thursday saw disputes flare over a range of issues, including finance, adding to anxiety about how much headway COP30 can make. Brazil is a deft climate negotiator, but the 'international context has never been so bad,' said Claudio Angelo, of the Brazilian organization Climate Observatory. Given the stakes, former UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa said Brazil may have to make do with 'baby steps.' 'One of the main messages that should be coming out of COP30 is the unity of everyone behind multilateralism and international cooperation. Not achieving that means everybody will suffer,' she told AFP. 'Failure is not an option in this case.' Previous COPs have been judged on the deals clinched between the nearly 200 nations that haggle over two weeks to advance global climate policy. Recent summits have produced landmark outcomes, from a global pledge to transition away from fossil fuels, to the creation of a specialized fund to help countries hit by climate disaster. COP30 CEO Ana Toni said that 'most of the big flashy topics' born out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change had been dealt with. That leaves Brazil with an arguably harder challenge — trying to ensure what has been agreed is put into practice. Much of the action is set for the COP30 sidelines or before nations arrive in the Amazonian city of Belem. National climate plans due before COP30 from all countries — but most importantly major emitters China, the European Union and India — will be more consequential than this year's negotiations, experts say. It is expected this latest round of national commitments will fall well short of containing global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, and possibly even 2C, the less ambitious of the Paris accord's climate goals. 'I expect that the COP will need to react to that,' said Ana Toni, although what form that reaction would take was 'under question.' Uncertainty about how COP30 will help steer nations toward 1.5C has left the Alliance of Small Island States bloc 'concerned,' said lead negotiator Anne Rasmussen. 'Our survival depends on that,' she told AFP. How countries will make good on their promise to transition away from fossil fuels may also become a point of contention. Angelo said he hoped Brazil would champion the idea, included in the country's climate plan, of working toward 'schedules' for that transition. But he likened Brazil's auctioning of oil and gas extraction rights near the mouth of the Amazon river this month — just as climate negotiators got down to business in Bonn — to an act of 'sabotage.' Another key priority for Brazil is forest protection, but otherwise COP30 leaders have mostly focused on unfinished business from previous meetings, including fleshing out a goal to build resilience to climate impacts. According to the hosts of last year's hard-fought climate talks, global tensions might not leave room for much else. 'We need to focus more on preserving the legacy that we have established, rather than increasing ambition,' said Yalchin Rafiyev, top climate negotiator for COP29 host Azerbaijan. He fears that trying and failing to do more could risk undermining the whole UN process. Those close to the climate talks concede they can move frustratingly slowly, but insist the annual negotiations remain crucial. 'I don't think there's any other way to address a threat to humanity as big as this is,' Espinosa told AFP.
France 24
a day ago
- Politics
- France 24
Global tensions rattle COP30 build-up but 'failure not an option'
But the hosts are yet to propose a headline ambition for the marathon November talks, raising concerns they could fall flat. The build-up has been overshadowed by devastating conflicts on three continents and the US withdrawal from global cooperation on climate, trade and health. Expectations have dimmed since Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's pitch three years ago to host climate talks in the Amazon. A warm-up UN climate event in Germany that concluded on Thursday saw disputes flare over a range of issues, including finance, adding to anxiety about how much headway COP30 can make. Brazil is a deft climate negotiator, but the "international context has never been so bad", said Claudio Angelo, of the Brazilian organisation Climate Observatory. Given the stakes, former UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa said Brazil may have to make do with "baby steps". "One of the main messages that should be coming out of COP30 is the unity of everyone behind multilateralism and international cooperation. Not achieving that means everybody will suffer," she told AFP. "Failure is not an option in this case." - 'Survival' - Previous COPs have been judged on the deals clinched between the nearly 200 nations that haggle over two weeks to advance global climate policy. Recent summits have produced landmark outcomes, from a global pledge to transition away from fossil fuels, to the creation of a specialised fund to help countries hit by climate disaster. COP30 CEO Ana Toni said that "most of the big flashy topics" born out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change had been dealt with. That leaves Brazil with an arguably harder challenge -- trying to ensure what has been agreed is put into practice. Much of the action is set for the COP30 sidelines or before nations arrive in the Amazonian city of Belem. National climate plans due before COP30 from all countries -- but most importantly major emitters China, the European Union and India -- will be more consequential than this year's negotiations, experts say. It is expected this latest round of national commitments will fall well short of containing global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, and possibly even 2C, the less ambitious of the Paris accord's climate goals. "I expect that the COP will need to react to that," said Ana Toni, although what form that reaction would take was "under question". Uncertainty about how COP30 will help steer nations towards 1.5C has left the Alliance of Small Island States bloc "concerned", said lead negotiator Anne Rasmussen. "Our survival depends on that," she told AFP. 'Threat to humanity' How countries will make good on their promise to transition away from fossil fuels may also become a point of contention. Angelo said he hoped Brazil would champion the idea, included in the country's climate plan, of working towards "schedules" for that transition. But he likened Brazil's auctioning of oil and gas extraction rights near the mouth of the Amazon river this month -- just as climate negotiators got down to business in Bonn -- to an act of "sabotage". Another key priority for Brazil is forest protection, but otherwise COP30 leaders have mostly focused on unfinished business from previous meetings, including fleshing out a goal to build resilience to climate impacts. According to the hosts of last year's hard-fought climate talks, global tensions might not leave room for much else. "We need to focus more on preserving the legacy that we have established, rather than increasing ambition," said Yalchin Rafiyev, top climate negotiator for COP29 host Azerbaijan. He fears that trying and failing to do more could risk undermining the whole UN process. Those close to the climate talks concede they can move frustratingly slowly, but insist the annual negotiations remain crucial. © 2025 AFP
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- General
- Business Recorder
Punjab govt implementing several eco-friendly initiatives
LAHORE: The Punjab government is implementing several eco-friendly initiatives in the current calendar year including large-scale tree plantation drives, the establishment of a Climate Observatory and the promotion of electric vehicles and green technologies. The government is also focusing on reducing pollution through measures like banning plastic bags below 75 microns and implementing an anti-smog plan, sources said. The Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said, 'Large-scale tree plantation and environmental projects are being launched under Punjab Green Programme. We have a comprehensive plan to plant 42 million trees on 50,869 acres under Chief Minister Plant for Pakistan Initiative. About 1.375 million trees are being planted on 3,790 acres of forest wasteland under CM Agroforestry Initiative.' The chief minister said, 'Scope of Green Pakistan Programme has been expanded, plantation of 466.463 million trees on 251,000 acres continues. Plantation of 5 million trees in rows on 10,223 avenue miles in canal area of Punjab has been activated.' She said, 'Provision of world-class facilities for the promotion of eco-tourism in Lal Suhanra National Park and Salt Range are being ensured.' The CM said, 'Wireless network, digital cameras, GPS devices and CCTV cameras are being provided for eco-tourism. Construction of an eco-friendly LEED certified multi-storey building has been started to establish a protected nature area, modern facilities have been provided for the staff.' She flagged, 'Shielding Summits Programme for disaster prevention in the mountains of Murree and Kahuta, recruitment of 600 fire watchers, provision of fire vehicles and watch towers are being ensured.' The chief minister said, 'Restoration of forest tracks and construction of tanks for spring water are also part of the project. Modern GIS-based protection system has been introduced, immediate detection of fire and encroachment is possible with drone, satellite and LIDAR technology.' Maryam Nawaz Sharif said, 'Digital communication cell has been established, modern monitoring equipment and additional staff are being provided to the Monitoring and Evaluation Wing of the Forest Department. Digital tree enumeration in the form of rows and GIS-based survey have been started in Punjab.' The chief minister said, 'Modern machinery has been purchased for forestry work, the process of plantation and forestry operations has been accelerated. Establishment of 104 Forest Command & Control Centers for 24-hour monitoring across the province is significantly increasing the capacity for forest protection.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Government delivers historic ruling to reclaim illegally seized land: 'Finally some good news'
Forests are one of the planet's most powerful tools for fighting the changing climate. They absorb carbon dioxide, regulate temperatures, and support biodiversity. Scientists and policymakers worldwide are strategizing about how to protect these climate guardians. In Brazil, a federal judge has ordered the government to reclaim private land belonging to owners responsible for illegal deforestation or for starting wildfires. The Amazon has been increasingly prone to droughts in recent years, making those wildfires even more dangerous. Although the new policy can still be appealed, it also has provisions to block the practice of regularization, stopping those from clearing forests to claim land. Cattle ranching contributes most to deforestation for agricultural purposes. Paulo Busse, a lawyer with the group Climate Observatory, told AP, "The decision bolsters the Brazilian government's efforts to fight illegal deforestation and intentional wildfires." As the temperature of the Earth warms, wildfire risks become more prominent. Legislation like this will help to preserve the forests that do so much to help regulate and protect the planet. Wildfires destroy the ecosystems that exist within the forest, but they also have wide-reaching consequences. One of these is reduced air quality, especially for those who live in the countries surrounding the Amazon. Children, pregnant people, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions are particularly vulnerable to this smoke-filled air. If the Amazon Rainforest continues to be depleted, it will also lead to a huge loss of biodiversity. With an estimated 10% of the globe's biodiversity, the Amazon is a treasure trove of plant and animal species. Many of them are at risk from deforestation issues. The Brazilian government and other organizations have implemented a variety of initiatives over the past few years to slow deforestation. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. A study in Nature Ecology & Evolution assessed different strategies for protecting the forests. The study found that implementing Protected Areas did help to reduce deforestation, but more efforts are necessary to protect Indigenous people in the rainforest. The Supreme Court's new ruling is another step in the right direction. A Reddit user reacted to the new Brazilian regulation, saying, "Finally some good news." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
