People at the Heart of Belem Summit
From November 5 7, leaders from 43 countries and the EU gathered in Belem, Brazil, to endorse the Belem Declaration on Hunger, Poverty and People-Centered Climate Action. The declaration highlights how climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation are worsening food insecurity and poverty, hitting vulnerable communities hardest.
Financing a Fair Transition
The declaration calls for continued investment in both mitigation and adaptation. By prioritizing social protection and crop insurance, it aims to strengthen local resilience. It also urges developed nations to mobilize $300 billion annually before 2035, and to scale up total climate finance to $1.3 trillion a year from all sources to support developing countries.
China's 2035 Emissions Plan
Ahead of COP30, China unveiled its first absolute economy-wide greenhouse gas reduction target, committing to a 710% cut below peak emissions by 2035. Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu described this as one of the most ambitious energy transitions globally, requiring major shifts in clean energy and low-carbon industries. A new white paper released on November 8 details these efforts and highlights growing international cooperation.
Building Global Momentum
Observers point to the BASIC group 7Brazil, South Africa, India and China as a driving force for developing-country collaboration. China’s bilateral climate agreements with the EU, the UK and Brazil are seen as key building blocks for multilateral action, keeping the Paris goals alive as other major players pivot.
With record-hot temperatures still on the rise, the Belem Declaration and China’s enhanced commitments underscore a shared push for fair, inclusive and people-centered climate action heading into COP30.
Reference(s):
China's leadership highlighted as Belem summit sets tone for COP30
cgtn.com
