Climate Summit in Belém: Progress Hampered by Disagreements and Limited Commitments

The recent international climate summit in Belém, Brazil, concluded with minimal progress as global leaders struggled to reach consensus on key measures to combat climate change. Despite initial hopes for significant advances, the summit was marked by divisions among participating nations and a lack of concrete action regarding the reduction of fossil fuel usage.

During the conference, high expectations were placed on developing a structured plan for phasing out coal, oil, and gas. However, delegates were only able to agree on a voluntary initiative aimed at accelerating national climate protection efforts. This falls short of previous commitments, including those made at the Dubai conference, where an agreement to move away from fossil fuels was reached but without a clear timeline or implementation details. The absence of the United States, historically one of the largest contributors to global emissions and climate funding, further limited the summit's impact.

One of the few notable outcomes was the establishment of a new fund spearheaded by Brazil to support rainforest conservation. Germany pledged one billion euros over the next decade to this initiative, which incentivizes countries to preserve forests and imposes penalties for deforestation. Despite this, the conference stopped short of adopting a specific action plan to address deforestation and instead reiterated earlier objectives to halt forest loss by 2030.

On the issue of climate finance, wealthier nations were called upon to significantly increase their support to developing countries for climate adaptation measures. Discussions referenced a potential tripling of financial assistance by 2035, yet no baseline year or precise funding figures were determined. This amount is expected to fall short of the $120 billion per year sought by many developing nations, prompting criticism from various organizations who argued that both the pace and scope of commitments remain insufficient.

The summit also highlighted persistent tensions between industrialized and developing countries. While wealthier nations pushed for more aggressive emissions reductions, developing and emerging economies emphasized the need for increased financial support to enable their own transitions and adaptation strategies. Oil-producing states advocated for the protection of their industries, contributing to deadlocks in negotiations.

Logistical challenges further complicated the summit in Belém. The city's proximity to the Amazon rainforest presented unique circumstances, such as severe tropical rains that disrupted proceedings and even caused temporary evacuations due to a fire outbreak. The summit was also notable for robust civil society participation, with indigenous groups and activists organizing large-scale demonstrations to demand stronger climate action and land rights.

Meanwhile, parallel discussions among G20 nations in South Africa resulted in a general commitment to enhanced climate efforts, although the group, which is responsible for the majority of global emissions, did not announce specific new measures.

Despite the ongoing debates, scientific research underscores the urgency of the situation. The last decade has been the warmest on record, and experts warn that the global temperature rise goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius, set by the Paris Agreement, is likely to be temporarily exceeded in the coming years. The consequences of continued warming include more frequent extreme weather events, such as storms, wildfires, droughts, and floods.

The next climate summit is scheduled to be held in Antalya, Turkey, where further efforts are expected to address the persistent challenges in global climate negotiations.