UN Conference convenes in Brazil to accelerate climate action
“This COP must ignite a decade of acceleration and delivery,” the UN Secretary-General told world leaders at the opening of the Belém Climate Summit of the UN climate conference on 6 November.
Negotiators, scientists, and civil society are gathering in Belém, Brazil, from 6-21 November to discuss priority actions to tackle climate change. COP30 will focus on the efforts needed to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C, the presentation of new national action plans (NDCs) and the progress on the finance pledges made at COP29.
In the Spotlight
"Acceleration must start here in Belém."
Marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement at the Belém Climate Summit, Secretary-General António Guterres urged world leaders to kickstart a decade of acceleration and implementation. "Acceleration must start here in Belém," he stressed, adding that current national climate plans and policies are still far from enough.
"The renewables revolution is here."
Every dollar invested in renewables creates three times more jobs than a dollar invested in fossil fuels. The renewables revolution is here, said the UN Secretary-General at the Energy Transition Roundtable on the sidelines of the Belém Climate Summit. "We must go much faster – and ensure all nations share the benefits," he added.
"Tropical forests are vital to climate stability."
Without tropical forests, there is no path to limiting global warming to 1.5°C by the end of the century, the UN Secretary-General said at the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, which aims to make standing forests more valuable than cleared land. "We have pledged to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030. Now we must deliver," he added.
UN Secretary-General urges world leaders to protect forests and oceans
“Protecting forests and oceans is not charity. It is a legal and moral responsibility and smart economics,” Secretary-General António Guterres said at the Belém Climate Summit. He called for stronger safeguards and increased investments in nature’s recovery.
“This COP must ignite a decade of acceleration and delivery.”
The United Nations will not give up on the 1.5°C goal, the Secretary-General told world leaders at the opening of COP30. "The 1.5°C limit is a red line for humanity. It must be kept within reach," he said. Countries need to urgently act and scale up solutions that transform economies and protect people, igniting a decade of acceleration and delivery.
“1.5°C by the end of the century remains our North Star”
In a video message on the release of UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report, the Secretary-General outlined the actions needed to keep global warming below 1.5°C by the end of the century. While temporary breaches have become more likely, the path to 1.5°C remains open, he said, calling on world leaders to deliver “a bold and credible response plan to close the ambition and implementation gaps” at COP30 in Belém.
"Adaptation is not a cost – it is a lifeline."
Climate impacts are accelerating, but adaptation finance is not keeping pace, said the UN Secretary-General in a message on the release of UNEP's Adaptation Gap report on 29 October 2025. He warned that the funding gap is leaving the world’s most vulnerable exposed to rising seas, deadly storms, and searing heat, and called on leaders at COP30 in Brazil to ensure developing countries have the resources and capacity they need to adapt to climate change.
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For information integrity
Learn how Brazil, the UN and UNESCO are working together to support information integrity efforts on climate change.
