The world has gathered for COP30- taking place against the backdrop of the Amazon rainforest- to discuss how countries worldwide propose to contribute to reduce the impacts of global warming. More than 56,000 delegates showed up at this year’s summit, the largest number coming from the host country itself, Brazil. COP30 is provisionally the second largest COP conference in history, and despite the notable absence of certain countries, much was achieved.  

Over 122 countries have submitted new NDCs (Nationally Determined Contribution), which outlines each country’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change impacts, submitted under the Paris Agreement. The finance provided to developing countries by developed countries has tripled to $120bn a year by 2035, as well as over $9 billion to halt deforestation. This will be put towards initiatives such as the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, put forward by Brazil to finance the conservation of tropical forests, and the Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes (AARL), which focuses on boosting regenerative agriculture.  There has also been development of more novel initiative, including the RAIZ (Resilient Agriculture Investment for Net-Zero Land Degradation) initiative, which rallied support from 10 governments, including Brazil, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom, to map deteriorated landscapes and mobilise private capital to restore said land.  

However, there was drawbacks to this conference, as governments around the world tried to find a common agreement. The most notable conflict concerned trade discussions, as the EU’s upcoming carbon border adjustment mechanism (“CBAM”) would expand the EU’s carbon pricing to apply to imports from outside the EU. It came under criticism on the damage that could pose for developing countries’ economies. COP30 was also criticised for lacking a roadmap away from fossil fuels by end of negotiations (though the president did announce plans for two roadmaps, to be developed outside Cop30). 

 However, the most notable drawback of this year’s conference was the USA’s notable absence.  The USA has long played a leading role in global climate diplomacy, due to its global power and influence over resource management, but with President Trump pulling out of the Paris Agreement and now being a no-show to this year’s COP, worries rightfully arise about the impact of this. Trump has so far slashed climate funding, and prioritised fossil fuel exports. He has threatened tariffs and withdrawn visa rights on countries so they will agree to vote against measures that would force shipping companies to pay for carbon emissions. This rases questions on, in the worst-case scenario, whether his actions will trigger a ‘domino effect:’ forcing vulnerable nations he is targeting to turn to fossil fuels, unable to support green energy without USA’s financial and diplomatic help.  

However, all hope is not lost, many across the USA are still in strong support of working towards the global climate effort, with movements such as ‘We Are Still In’, a coalition of majors, governors, chief executives, university presidents and faith groups still committed to fulfilling the Paris Agreement, having a strong presence in the states. Other global powers are in clear support of the international effort to make sure our global temperature doesn’t rise the 1.5°C limit,  with Chile’s president Gabriel Boric stating decisively during the COP30 talks that: “The President of the United States at the last U.N. Assembly said that the climate crisis does not exist, and that is a lie”, with many strong international powers reiterating this sentiment, pushing to ‘chose solidarity, science, and economic common sense’ through policies such as Brazil’s launch of The Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), with the aim of providing permanent funding for tropical forest conservation, and Chile’s own 2025 NDC ensures that 80 per cent of electricity is generated from renewable sources by 2030, prioritises green taxes, and emphasises the need for public-private collaboration.  

Most importantly for our Xavierian students, what is Manchester doing to prevent the devastating effects of climate change? Between 2020-25, the Manchester City Council kept within its carbon reduction target and plans to meet this again through the new ‘Greater Manchester Five-Year Environment Plan’, which outlined eight clear aims, focusing on energy infrastructure, sustainable buildings, transport, preserving and growing the natural environment, transitioning to a circular economy, improving waste, recycling and air quality, and adaptation to the effects climate change is causing to our city. Robyn Smith, Project Manager for the Mission Based Approach at G.M.C.A., told our Xaviazine that: ‘‘there’s lots of positive progress carbon emissions are reducing and we’re making progress against the targets’’. There’s strong success stories in: ‘‘programmes retrofitting social housing, delivering solar PV on schools, funding community green spaces, development of Bee network and Bee buses’’ However, Smith told us: ‘‘reaching carbon neutral by 2038 will still be very challenging though and we need to continue to accelerate and scale up what we currently do’’.