World Leaders Criticize Trump at COP30 Amid Climate Crisis

Thu Nov 06 2025 23:22:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

World leaders at the COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, have expressed strong opposition to President Trump's climate policies, marking a significant moment in global environmental discussions.

At COP30 in Belém, Brazilian President Lula and other leaders condemned President Trump's stance on climate change, labeling him a liar and blaming his policies for hindering global efforts. Despite the criticism, many major nations, including the U.S. and China, were notably absent from this vital summit aimed at addressing climate issues.

President Trump was under attack on Thursday as world leaders lined up to criticize his stance on climate change ahead of the global COP30 summit.

The US leader, who is absent from the gathering in the Amazonian city of Belém, was called a liar for his rejection of climate science and being 'against humankind' for his rollback of key climate policies.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged the waning political consensus on the issue. He said climate change was once a unity issue but 'today however, sadly that consensus is gone'.

Over the next two weeks, countries will try and negotiate a new deal on climate change, focusing on channelling more money to forest protection.

Many leaders from the world's largest nations – India, Russia, US, and China - are notably absent from this year's summit.

And while President Trump isn't attending this meeting in Belém, his views on climate change are certainly on the minds of many of the other leaders present.

Speaking at the UN in September, the US president said that climate change was 'the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world'.

Without naming the US leader, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil warned of 'extremist forces that fabricate fake news and are condemning future generations to life on a planet altered forever by global warming'.

The leaders of Chile and Colombia went further, calling the US president a liar and asking other countries to ignore US efforts to move away from climate action.

Despite the criticism aimed at Trump, achieving consensus on new climate actions is proving difficult. Only a few dozen leaders have turned up in Belém, and a majority of countries have failed to submit new plans to cut carbon emissions, which are the root cause of rising temperatures.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recognized the declining global political support for climate initiatives but emphasized the UK's commitment: 'My message is that the UK is all in.'

However, on Wednesday night, the UK chose to opt out of its flagship $125bn fund to support the world's rainforests, which has frustrated Brazilian officials.

To tackle climate change effectively, protection of ecosystems like the Amazon is crucial, as they store large amounts of greenhouse gases and are home to countless species.

Meanwhile, Prince William encouraged leaders to come together and act for future generations, emphasizing the urgent need for collaboration in facing the climate crisis.

As COP30 unfolds, countries will deliberate on how to raise finance for those affected by climate change, bringing focus to the severe impacts being felt worldwide.