World leaders slam Trump over climate stance ahead of COP30 summit

New Delhi, Nov 7: World leaders have sharply criticised US President Donald Trump for his rejection of climate science, ahead of the COP30 summit in Brazil’s Amazonian city of Belém, the BBC reported.

President Trump, who is not attending the conference, was branded a liar by the leaders of Chile and Colombia for dismissing global warming as a “con job”. Speaking at the UN in September, Trump had described climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” arguing that industrialised nations should not “inflict pain on themselves” in pursuit of climate goals.

Without naming him, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned against “extremist forces that fabricate fake news” and endanger future generations by denying the climate crisis. Chile’s Environment Minister Maisa Rojas told the BBC that “the science is very clear” and urged countries not to “falsify the truth.”

According to the BBC, only a few dozen world leaders have turned up for the summit, with many of the biggest emitters — including the US, India, China, and Russia — notably absent. Delegates will spend the next two weeks negotiating fresh commitments on reducing emissions and protecting rainforests, amid faltering global political will.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer admitted that consensus on climate action had weakened, saying, “It had been a unity issue internationally and in the UK, but today sadly that consensus is gone.” While affirming that the UK remains “all-in,” Britain unexpectedly withdrew from Brazil’s proposed $125 billion “Tropical Forests Forever Facility,” aimed at financing rainforest conservation. The decision, BBC noted, has angered Brazilian officials.

Former UK environment minister Lord Zac Goldsmith told the BBC that the UK’s withdrawal “caused real frustration” among Brazilian hosts, calling it a last-minute reversal. The move also appeared to contradict the position of the Prince of Wales, who praised the fund as “a visionary step toward valuing nature’s role in climate stability.”

Addressing the summit, Prince William urged leaders to act decisively, saying, “Let us be the generation that turned the tide—not for applause, but for the quiet gratitude of those yet to be born.” BBC reported that COP30 discussions will focus on climate finance and support for vulnerable nations already suffering from extreme weather events. The talks follow a series of climate disasters, including Hurricane Melissa, which recently killed over 75 people in the Caribbean – an event scientists say was intensified by global warming.