Days before the start of the COP30 in Brazil, the White House confirmed that the United States will not send high-level representatives to the planet’s most important climate summit.
Likewise, Argentina will not participate either. Thus, the Argentine government led by Javier Milei reinforces its ideological and geopolitical alignment with Donald Trump’s administration.
The Republican’s decision contrasts with the participation of more than a hundred U.S. local leaders who will attend to fill the void left by his administration.
“The United States will not send any high-level representatives to the COP30“, a White House official declared under the condition of anonymity, as reported by the AFP agency this Saturday.
The official added that “the president is directly engaging with leaders worldwide on energy issues“.
This stance reflects President Donald Trump’s focus on boosting the fossil fuel industry.
He added that this “can be seen in the historic trade and peace agreements, which have a significant focus on energy alliances“.
COP 30 in Brazil: without the United States, 57 heads of state are expected
In contrast to the United States’ stance, the Brazilian government reported on Friday that it expects the presence of 57 heads of state and government at COP30.
Before the start of the climate summit, a leaders’ meeting will be held on November 6 and 7.
This will also be in the city of Belém, prior to the formal start of the conference on November 10.
The preliminary summit will bring together delegations from 143 countries, of which just over a third will be led by their respective national leaders.
Despite the accommodation issues in Belém that many countries have complained about, there are already 170 national delegations registered for COP30, surpassing the quorum needed to make decisions.
This was reported by the Secretary of Climate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio.
The diplomat also confirmed that neither the United States nor Argentina confirmed their attendance.
This occurs at a time of maximum rapprochement between both nations due to the ideological similarities between Trump and Milei.
The objectives of COP30
Brazil’s Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, expressed that she expects leaders to provide the “terms of reference” for their representatives in the negotiations during COP30.
Silva pointed to key issues such as the development of “indicators” for adaptation actions and the need for “more resources” to finance them.
“For that, investment and planning are needed, because things don’t happen by magic thinking,” declared the minister.
Additionally, she hoped that leaders would send a “message” about the causes of climate change and support the “gradual and fair” energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources, as well as the end of deforestation.
U.S. local leaders fill the federal void at COP30
Instead of Trump or federal government officials, more than a hundred U.S. local leaders will participate in COP30.
This includes governors, mayors, and high-ranking state officials, representing 26 states.
There will be governors, more than a dozen high-ranking officials from six member states of the U.S. Climate Alliance, more than 35 mayors, and 50 municipal officials.
The delegation will be led by the governors of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, and New Mexico, Michelle Lujan Grisham.
“The leadership of the states and territories of the Alliance has long been a laboratory for the world’s most innovative and impactful climate solutions,” declared Evers.
“We hope to catalyze an even deeper partnership in Brazil, where we will make it clear that, no matter the obstacles, we continue to move forward,” he added.
Gina McCarthy, co-chair of America Is All In, noted that, in the absence of federal government action, it is the local governments that are taking the initiative.
The delegation will present the 2025 annual report of the U.S. Climate Alliance in Rio de Janeiro and participate in the COP30 Local Leaders Forum and the C40 World Mayors Summit.
