News

Many hoped UN climate talks in Brazil would be historic. They may be remembered as a flop

The Frederick News-Post · last updated

This year’s U.N. climate conference in Brazil had many unique aspects that could have been part of an historic outcome.

COP30, as it’s called, was hosted in Belem, a city on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, a crucial regulator of climate and home to many Indigenous peoples who are both hit hard by climate change and are part of the solution. It had the heft of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, an influential and charismatic leader on the international stage known for his ability to bring people together. And encouraged by Lula’s rousing speeches in the summit’s beginning days, more than 80 nations called for a detailed road map for the world to sharply reduce the use of gas, oil and coal, the main drivers of climate change.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAmx? E96 6?5[ ?@?6 @7 E92E >2EE6C65]k^Am

kAm%96 7:?2= 564:D:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4=:>2E6\4@Ab_\3C2K:=\E2=<D\8=@32=\H2C>:?8`f3`7ba3`6b24hf7dedddb34h“3a2a4Qm2??@F?465 $2EFC52J[k^2m H9:49 :?4=F565 D@>6 E2?8:3=6 E9:?8D =:<6 2? :?4C62D6 :? >@?6J E@ 96=A k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4@Ab_\4=:>2E6\492?86\3C2K:=\7@DD:=\7F6=D\7c`5_524_ddbgad3536`732d24b`65h_Qm56G6=@A:?8 ?2E:@?D 252AE E@ 4=:>2E6 492?86k^2m[ H2D @G6C2== H2E6C65\5@H? 4@>A2C65 E@ >2?J 4@?76C6?46D :? E96 A2DE 564256 2?5 76== 72C D9@CE @7 >2?J 56=682E6DV 6IA64E2E:@?D] xE 5:5?VE >6?E:@? E96 H@C5D “7@DD:= 7F6=D[” >F49 =6DD :?4=F56 2 E:>6=:?6 E@ C65F46 E96:C FD6]k^Am

kAmx?DE625 @7 36:?8 C6>6>36C65 2D 9:DE@C:4[ E96 4@?76C6?46 H:== =:<6=J 7FCE96C 6C@56 4@?7:56?46 :? 2 AC@46DD E92E >2?J 6?G:C@?>6?E2=:DED 2?5 6G6? D@>6 H@C=5 =6256CD 92G6 2C8F65 :D?’E FA E@ E96 492==6?86 @7 4@?7C@?E:?8 8=@32= E6>A6C2EFC6 C:D6[ H9:49 :D =625:?8 E@ >@C6 7C6BF6?E 2?5 :?E6?D6 6IEC6>6 H62E96C 6G6?ED =:<6 7=@@5D[ DE@C>D 2?5 962E H2G6D]k^Am

kAm%96 4C:E:4:D> H2D H:E96C:?8 2?5 42>6 7C@> >2?J 4@C?6CD]k^Am

kAm“p 4=:>2E6 564:D:@? E92E 42??@E 6G6? D2J ‘7@DD:= 7F6=D’ :D ?@E ?6FEC2=:EJ[ :E :D 4@>A=:4:EJ[” D2:5 !2?2>2 ?68@E:2E@C yF2? r2C=@D |@?E6CC6J v@>6K] “$4:6?46 92D 366? 56=6E65 7C@> r~!b_ 3642FD6 :E @776?5D E96 A@==FE6CD]”k^Am

kAmtG6? E9@D6 H9@ D2H D@>6 A@D:E:G6D H6C6 BF:4< E@ D2J E96J H6C6 =@@<:?8 E@H2C5 E96 7FEFC6]k^Am

kAm“r=:>2E6 24E:@? :D 24C@DD >2?J 2C62D[ D@ @? E96 H9@=6 :E :D 2 >:I65 328] %96J 4@F=5 92G6 5@?6 >F49[ >F49 >@C6[” D2:5 {:5J }24A:=[ 4@@C5:?2E@C @7 E96 pD:2? !6@A=6D’ |@G6>6?E @? s63E 2?5 s6G6=@A>6?E]k^Am

kAm“p== 6J6D 2C6 2=C625J EFC?:?8 E@ r~!b`[” 25565 }24A:=[ C676CC:?8 E@ ?6IE J62CVD 4@?76C6?46[ H9:49 H:== 36 96=5 :? %FC<6J]k^Am

k9amw:89 6IA64E2E:@?D 7@C r~!b_k^9am

kAm$2EFC52JVD 7:?2= C6D@=FE:@? H2D E96 4F=>:?2E:@? @7 E9C66 J62CD @7 E2=<[ 7C@> >62DFC65 @AE:>:D> E@ 9@@A=2[ 23@FE 2 r@?76C6?46 @7 E96 !2CE:6D[ 2D E96 DF>>:E :D <?@H?[ E92E 4@F=5 C6DE@C6 4@?7:56?46 :? E96 23:=:EJ @7 >F=E:=2E6C2= ?68@E:2E:@?D E@ E24<=6 4=:>2E6 492?86] xE H2D 6G6? 42==65 2 “r~! @7 ECFE9]”k^Am

kAmuC@> E96 E:>6 {F=2 H2D C66=64E65 :? ~4E@36C a_aa[ 96 3682? A:E49:?8 9:D G:D:@? @7 9@DE:?8 2 4=:>2E6 DF>>:E 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? E96 p>2K@?] qJ a_ab[ E96 &]}] 925 4@?7:C>65 qC2K:=VD 3:5 E@ 9@DE :E :? q6=6>] %96 49@:46 @7 q6=6>[ 2 4@2DE2= 4:EJ :? ?@CE962DE qC2K:=[ C2:D65 >2?J BF6DE:@?D[ 3@E9 :? qC2K:= 2?5 :? >2?J 4@F?EC:6D[ 3642FD6 q6=6> 5@6D?VE 92G6 E96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 @7 @E96C qC2K:=:2? 4:E:6D DF49 2D #:@ 56 y2?6:C@ @C $2@ !2F=@]k^Am

kAmu@C {F=2[ E92E H2D E96 A@:?Ei %9:D H2D 2 492?46 7@C E96 H@C=5 E@ 86E 2 E2DE6 @7 E96 p>2K@?[ ECF=J F?56CDE2?5 H92E H2D 2E DE2<6[ 2?5 2 492?46 7@C E9@FD2?5D @7 x?5:86?@FD A6@A=6D[ H9@ =:G6 24C@DD E96 G2DE E6CC:E@CJ D92C65 3J >2?J $@FE9 p>6C:42? ?2E:@?D[ E@ A2CE:4:A2E6]k^Am

kAmqJ E96 E:>6 E96 4@?76C6?46 3682? }@G] e H:E9 EH@ 52JD @7 H@C=5 =6256CDV DA66496D[ {F=2 H2D 23=6 E@ 492?86 E96 DF3;64E 7C@> q6=6>[ :? =2C86 A2CE 3J =2J:?8 @FE 2 G:D:@? @7 H92E E96 4@?76C6?46 4@F=5 36]k^Am

kAm“t2CE9 42? ?@ =@?86C DFDE2:? E96 56G6=@A>6?E >@56= 32D65 @? E96 :?E6?D:G6 FD6 @7 7@DD:= 7F6=D E92E 92D AC6G2:=65 @G6C E96 A2DE a__ J62CD[” {F=2 D2:5 }@G] f[ 255:?8i “%96 7@DD:= 7F6= 6C2 :D 5C2H:?8 E@ 2 4=@D6]Qk^Am

kAm(@C5D =:<6 E9@D6[ 4@>:?8 7C@> E96 =6256C H9@ 92D 3@E9 4FC365 567@C6DE2E:@? :? E96 p>2K@? 2?5 F?232D965=J DFAA@CE65 @:= 6IA=@C2E:@? :? :E[ C2:D65 9@A6D 2>@?8 >2?J 56=682E6D[ D4:6?E:DED 2?5 24E:G:DED] w6C6 H2D {F=2[ E96 F=E:>2E6 AC28>2E:DE 7C@> 2 >2;@C @:=\AC@5F4:?8 4@F?ECJ[ H9:49 86ED >@DE @7 :ED 6?6C8J 7@C 5@>6DE:4 FD6D 7C@> C6?6H23=6D =:<6 9J5C@A@H6C[ AFD9:?8 2 >2;@C 492?86]k^Am

k9am!C6G:@FD ?2>:?8 @7 7@DD:= 7F6=Dk^9am

kAmx? =2E6 a_ab[ 5FC:?8 r~!ag :? sF32:[ E96 7:?2= C6D@=FE:@? 564=2C65 E96 H@C=5 ?66565 E@ “EC2?D:E:@? 2H2J” 7C@> 7@DD:= 7F6=D] %96 A2DE EH@ J62CD[ E9@F89[ ?@E9:?8 925 366? 5@?6 E@ 25G2?46 E92E] x?5665[ :?DE625 @7 A92D:?8 2H2J[ 8C66?9@FD6 82D 6>:DD:@?D H@C=5H:56 4@?E:?F6 E@ C:D6]k^Am

kAm}@H 2E r~!b_[ E96C6 H2D E2=< @7 2 “C@25 >2A” E@ 7F?52>6?E2==J 492?8:?8 H@C=5 6?6C8J DJDE6>D]k^Am

kAmp 76H 52JD 367@C6 E96 E2=<D 4@?4=F565[ E96C6 H6C6 D:8?D E92E 6G6? {F=2[ 2C8F23=J qC2K:=VD >@DE 5@>:?2E:?8 A@=:E:42= 7:8FC6 @7 E96 A2DE ad J62CD[ H2D E6>A6C:?8 9:D 6IA64E2E:@?D] x? 2 DA6649 (65?6D52J ?:89E[ 96 >256 E96 42D6 E92E 4=:>2E6 492?86 H2D 2? FC86?E E9C62E E92E 2== A6@A=6 ?66565 E@ A2J 2EE6?E:@? E@] qFE 96 H2D 2=D@ 42C67F= E@ D2J E92E ?2E:@?D D9@F=5 36 23=6 E@ EC2?D:E:@? E@ C6?6H23=6 6?6C8:6D 2E E96:C @H? A246[ :? =:?6 H:E9 E96:C @H? 42A24:E:6D[ 2?5 E96C6 H2D ?@ :?E6?E:@? E@ “:>A@D6 2?JE9:?8 @? 2?J3@5J]Qk^Am

kAm}68@E:2E@CD H@F=5 =@D6 >F49 @7 %9FCD52J[ 2D 2 7:C6 2E E96 G6?F6 7@C465 6G24F2E:@?D]k^Am

k9amp? @FE4@>6 E92E >2?J ?2E:@?D 3=2DE65k^9am

kAmqJ uC:52J[ E96 tFC@A62? &?:@?[ 2=@?8 H:E9 D6G6C2= {2E:? p>6C:42? 2?5 !24:7:4 xD=2?5 ?2E:@?D 2?5 @E96CD[ H6C6 7=2E=J C6;64E:?8 E96 7:CDE 5C27E @7 2 C6D@=FE:@? E92E 5:5?VE :56?E:7J 7@DD:= 7F6=D 2D E96 42FD6 @7 4=:>2E6 492?86 @C 92G6 2?J E:>6=:?6 E@ >@G6 2H2J 7C@> E96>]k^Am

kAm“p7E6C `_ J62CD[ E9:D AC@46DD :D DE:== 72:=:?8[” |2:?2 ‘2<27F2 %2=:2[ >:?:DE6C @7 6?G:C@?>6?E 7@C E96 D>2== !24:7:4 :D=2?5 ?2E:@? @7 %FG2=F[ D2:5 :? 2 DA6649 uC:52J[ E2=<:?8 23@FE E96 564256 D:?46 E96 a_`d !2C:D p8C66>6?E[ H9:49 D6E :?E6C?2E:@?2= 8@2=D E@ =:>:E E6>A6C2EFC6 C:D6]k^Am

kAmp7E6C 2? 2==\?:89E6C 7C@> uC:52J :?E@ $2EFC52J[ E96 C6G:D65 C6D@=FE:@?[ H9:49 &]}] @77:4:2=D 42==65 E96 “7:?2=[” 5:5 ?@E :?4=F56 2 >6?E:@? @7 7@DD:= 7F6=D] t?G:C@?>6?E2= 24E:G:DED 564C:65 E96 :?7=F6?46 @7 >2;@C @:= AC@5F4:?8 4@F?EC:6D =:<6 $2F5: pC23:2[ H9:49 9:DE@C:42==J 92G6 7@F89E 282:?DE AC@A@D2=D E92E AFE 2 E:>6=:?6 @? C65F4:?8 @:=]k^Am

kAm(96? 56=682E6D >6E $2EFC52J 27E6C?@@? 7@C E96 7:?2= A=6?2CJ[ r~!b_ !C6D:56?E p?5Cé r@CCê2 5@ {28@ 82G6=65 :? E96 E6IE H9:=6 2=D@ AC@>:D:?8 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E96 5:D4FDD:@? @7 7@DD:= 7F6=D 2?5 H@C< H:E9 r@=@>3:2 @? 2 C@25 >2A E92E 4@F=5 36 D92C65 H:E9 @E96C 4@F?EC:6D] %649?:42==J[ qC2K:= 9@=5D E96 AC6D:56?4J @7 E96 4=:>2E6 E2=<D F?E:= E96 DF>>:E :? %FC<6J ?6IE J62C]k^Am

kAm%92E H2D =:EE=6 4@?D@=2E:@? 7@C D6G6C2= 5@K6? ?2E:@?D E92E 4@>A=2:?65[ :?4=F5:?8 D@>6[ DF49 2D r@=@>3:2[ E92E 7=2E=J C6;64E65 E96 @FE4@>6]k^Am

kAm“%92?< J@F 7@C J@FC DE2E6>6?E[Q 5@ {28@ H@F=5 D2J 27E6C 6249 @?6] QxE H:== 36 ?@E65 :? E96 C6A@CE]”k^Am

View full article

here today, more tomorrow

We’ve launched briefing.center with a focus on the press and media.

And we’ve added Citizen Cartwright, a daily quick-read news summary by veteran Washington journalist Linda Cartwright. We’ve also created a new voting rights knowledge center for Citizen Cartwright subscribers. (You can sign up for a dedicated morning email at citizencartwright.com.)

You can sign up here for full access to press and media and Citizen Cartwright on briefing.center.

You can use briefing.center as the center of your information management, or just one of your tools. We’re happy to discuss your information needs.

Sign up