In a critical move to accelerate global climate ambition, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva convened 17 world leaders for a high-stakes virtual climate summit, paving the way for enhanced action ahead of COP30, which Brazil will host later this year.
The closed-door summit brought together leaders from major economies and climate-vulnerable nations, including representatives from China, the European Union, the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and small island developing states.
The meeting forms part of a broader mobilisation strategy by Guterres and Lula to strengthen commitments under the Paris Agreement and drive momentum for new, stronger Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to be announced in 2025.
A Powerful Message of Unity and Progress
Following the two-hour session, Guterres described the gathering as “one of the most diverse meetings of national leaders focused exclusively on climate in recent times,” stressing a shared global determination to fast-track the clean energy transition.
“As we heard today, the world is moving forward. Full-speed ahead. No group or government can stop the clean energy revolution,” Guterres declared at a post-summit press briefing.
Major New Climate Commitments Announced
During the summit, several leaders pledged to deliver ambitious new NDCs. In a significant development, China’s President Xi Jinping confirmed that China’s updated climate targets would cover all economic sectors and all greenhouse gases — a move hailed by Guterres as “extremely important” for advancing global climate action.
These new commitments are expected to drive a just transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, a shift Guterres described as the “economic opportunity of the century.”
“The clean energy sector is booming – creating jobs and boosting competitiveness and growth worldwide,” he said, highlighting the sharp decline in renewable energy costs and the benefits of reducing dependency on volatile fossil fuel markets.
Climate Progress Since the Paris Agreement
Since the historic 2015 Paris Agreement, projections for global warming have dropped from over 4°C to approximately 2.6°C if current climate plans are fully implemented. However, this still falls short of the Paris goal to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Guterres urged all nations to submit enhanced national plans that fully align with the 1.5°C target, cover all greenhouse gases and sectors, and firmly commit to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Building Political Momentum Ahead of COP30
A senior UN official, speaking anonymously, emphasized that Wednesday’s summit was part of a series of efforts to maintain political momentum in 2025 — a pivotal year marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and a key deadline for new national climate commitments.
“This meeting is about reminding leaders that climate remains a key priority – that collaboration and multilateralism still matter,” the official said.
A Brazilian government source added that COP30 in Belém will focus on implementation, transparency, and results, moving beyond negotiations to showcase real-world climate solutions.
“We have already negotiated enough. Now the world wants to see action, results, examples, and solutions.”
Call for Climate Justice and Financial Support
Guterres reiterated the urgent need for financial solidarity with developing nations, stressing that regions like Africa and the Pacific Islands are already facing accelerated impacts of climate change.
He called for:
- Mobilising $1.3 trillion per year for developing nations by 2035.
- Doubling adaptation finance to $40 billion this year.
- Increasing contributions to the newly created Loss and Damage Fund from COP28.
No Let-Up in Climate Action
Looking ahead, Guterres announced a high-level UN climate event scheduled for September 2025, weeks before COP30, to assess progress on climate plans and finance.
“We cannot, must not, and will not let up on climate action,” Guterres emphasized.
As the world edges closer to COP30, the message from Wednesday’s summit was resounding: decisive leadership, stronger commitments, and global cooperation are critical to securing a livable future for all.
EnviroNews
