COP30: With Trump and Numerous Leaders Absent, Is the Summit Still Relevant?

A photograph from a decade ago, captured during the COP21 summit in Paris, now appears almost like an artifact from a bygone era. The image depicts dozens of dignitaries in dark suits posing before a massive banner reading "COP21 Paris." In the center, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron beams, standing next to the future King Charles III and just ahead of China’s Xi Jinping. To the far right, then-US President Barack Obama is seen engaged in conversation with a figure partially cropped out of the frame—a testament to the sheer volume of world leaders present that day, making it nearly impossible for photographers to capture everyone in a single shot.

This scene stands in stark contrast to the group photo taken on Thursday at the COP30 summit in Brazil. In this year’s lineup, Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were notably absent, as were the heads of state from approximately 160 other nations. Most significantly, US President Donald Trump did not attend. The Trump administration has completely withdrawn from the process, announcing it will not dispatch any high-level representatives this year. This mass absence prompts a critical question: What is the purpose of a two-week multinational gathering if so many key leaders are missing?

Christiana Figueres, the former head of the UN’s climate process who oversaw the negotiation of the Paris Agreement, previously described the COP mechanism as "not fit for purpose" during last year’s meeting. Joss Garman, a former climate activist now leading the think tank Loom, concurs, stating, "The golden era for multilateral diplomacy is over." He argues that climate politics has shifted toward determining who controls and profits from the economic benefits of emerging energy sectors.

With carbon dioxide emissions continuing to climb despite 29 previous summits dedicated to reducing them, many wonder if further COP meetings will yield any tangible results.

Trump and the Climate 'Con Job'

Upon returning to office, Trump’s first act was using his signature marker to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, the 2015 UN treaty designed to limit global warming to below 1.5°C. In September, addressing the UN General Assembly, Trump labeled climate change "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world." He warned, "If you don't get away from this green scam, your country is going to fail."

The administration has since dismantled environmental protections, rolling back restrictions on oil, gas, and coal extraction. Trump has signed into law billions of dollars in tax breaks for fossil fuel companies and opened federal lands for development. Furthermore, his team has urged global governments to abandon what they termed "pathetic" renewable energy initiatives in favor of purchasing US oil and gas, threatening punitive tariffs for non-compliance. Consequently, Japan, South Korea, and European nations have committed to buying tens of billions of dollars worth of US hydrocarbons.

Trump’s stated goal is to establish the US as the "number one energy superpower in the world." Simultaneously, he has moved to dismantle the clean energy agenda of his predecessor, Joe Biden. Subsidies and tax incentives for wind and solar power have been significantly reduced, while permits have been revoked and projects cancelled. Federal research funding has also been slashed.

When questioned about the administration’s stance in September, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright defended the policy, asking, "Wind power in the United States has been subsidised for 33 years - isn't that enough? You've got to be able to walk on your own after 25 to 30 years of subsidies."

John Podesta, a senior climate adviser to both Obama and Biden, offers a different perspective. He asserts that "The United States is taking a wrecking ball to clean energy," adding that the administration is attempting to regress not just to the 20th century, but to the 19th.

The impact of these actions extends beyond US borders. Last month, a landmark agreement aimed at reducing global shipping emissions collapsed after the US, alongside Saudi Arabia, successfully terminated the negotiations. This development has alarmed supporters of the COP process, who fear that if the US continues on this path, other countries may follow suit by lowering their own climate commitments. Anna Aberg, a Research Fellow at Chatham House’s Environment and Society programme, highlights these growing concerns.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2025-11-10 00:09:19 UTC