The U.N. climate summit opens today in Belém, Brazil, where the United States will be notably absent after the Trump administration declined to send a high-level delegation. The U.S. is still expected to influence the climate talks as Trump officials use lobbyists and economic threats to attempt to sabotage environmental initiatives and efforts to cut emissions proposed by representatives from around the world. The United States is one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters, while Trump has called the climate crisis a “con job.” Meanwhile, representatives from the Alliance of Small Island States are again urging leaders of the Global North to commit to stronger action in order to prevent the worst impacts of global warming, including the phaseout of fossil fuels. This is Tuvalu’s environmental minister speaking in Belém Friday.

Maina Vakafua Talia: “We had high hopes that this new agreement would give us the necessary legal measures to protect Tuvalu from the worst impacts of climate change-related sea level rise. Ten years on from Paris, we are gravely concerned about the slow progress in delivering significant emissions reductions to ensure our survival.”

Democracy Now! will be broadcasting from COP30 in Belém next week.