Title: With Trump and numerous world leaders absent, is COP30 still relevant?

A photograph from ten years ago, captured during COP21 in Paris, now feels like an artifact from a bygone era. The image depicts a long line of dignitaries in dark suits posing before a massive "COP21 Paris" sign. At the center, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron beams, standing next to the future King Charles III, with China’s Xi Jinping nearby. To the far right, then-US President Barack Obama is seen in deep conversation with a figure partially obscured by the frame—a testament to the sheer volume of leaders present that day.

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 and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among the absentees, as were the leaders of approximately 160 other nations. Notably, US President Donald Trump did not attend. The Trump administration has completely withdrawn from the process, confirming that no high-level officials will be present. This mass absence raises a critical question: Why convene a two-week multinational conference if so many key figures are missing?

Christiana Figueres, who led the UN’s climate process when the Paris Agreement was reached, previously described the COP mechanism as "not fit for purpose" during last year’s gathering. Joss Garman, a former climate activist now leading the think tank Loom, echoes this sentiment, stating that "the golden era for multilateral diplomacy is over." He argues that climate politics has shifted toward controlling the economic advantages of emerging energy sectors. With carbon dioxide emissions continuing to rise despite 29 previous summits aimed at reducing them, many wonder if further COP meetings can yield any meaningful results.

Trump and the Climate 'Con Job'

Upon returning to office, Trump immediately used a marker pen to revoke the US’s participation in the Paris Agreement, the 2015 UN treaty designed to limit global warming to below 1.5°C. Addressing the UN General Assembly in September, he labeled climate change "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world." He warned that nations failing to escape this "green scam" would face ruin.

His administration has since dismantled environmental regulations, rolling back limits on oil, gas, and coal usage while signing billions in tax breaks for fossil fuel companies. Federal lands have also been opened for extraction. Furthermore, Trump’s team has urged global governments to abandon what they termed "pathetic" renewable energy initiatives, threatening punitive tariffs if they do not purchase US oil and gas. Consequently, Japan, South Korea, and European nations have agreed to buy tens of billions of dollars worth of US hydrocarbons.

Trump’s stated goal is to establish the US as the world’s "number one energy superpower." To achieve this, he is actively reversing the clean energy policies of his predecessor, Joe Biden. Subsidies and tax incentives for wind and solar power have been reduced, permits revoked, and projects canceled. Research funding has also been slashed. When questioned about the administration’s stance in September, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright justified the cuts, asking, "Wind power in the United States has been subsidised for 33 years - isn’t that enough?" He added, "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, offered a different perspective. He argued that the US is "taking a wrecking ball to clean energy" and attempting to regress not just to the 20th century, but to the 19th.

The impact of these policies is already visible. Last month, a significant agreement to reduce global shipping emissions collapsed after the US, alongside Saudi Arabia, blocked the negotiations. This has caused concern among supporters of the COP framework. Anna Aberg, a Research Fellow at Chatham House’s Environment and Society program, highlights the fear that if the US lowers its commitments, other countries may follow suit.

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