The Guardian view on Cop30: Starmer must stop havering and announce that he’s going to Brazil | Editorial
In month, this year’s UN climate summit, Cop30, begins in Belém, Brazil – preceded by a meeting of key leaders. This is a crucial moment. UN scientists have not yet published calculations based on the latest round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), because countries’ emissions commitments are known. But Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has brought leaders together because it is already clear that current emissions commitments are far from enough. The Paris 1.5C threshold was crossed last year. Without stronger action, this temporary breach will become irreversible – with devastating consequences for people and the planet.
Lula’s diplomatic approaches to Donald Trump, who calls the climate crisis a “scam”, suggest he is trying to bring together key players before Belém. Having heavy weights in the room can make all the difference. Ten years ago in Paris, the presence of world leaders proved crucial to reaching an ambitious agreement. This is why it is important that Sir Keir Starmer is present. He may not be the most powerful world leader, but his presence constitutes a moral and diplomatic imperative. If King Charles can do it, he should go too. Soft power can help rebuild the spirit of cooperation in order to keep the hopes of the Paris Agreement alive.
The UK is historically one of the world’s biggest polluters, due to its early industrialization and empire. But climate policies over the past two decades have been ambitious compared to other rich countries, and the UK’s NDC is one of the few that climate analysts see as helping to keep the 1.5C target in sight. All of this makes it even more important that Sir Keir is in Brazil, in person, to advocate for evidence-based policy in multilateral climate negotiations.
Cop30 comes at a difficult time for climate policy in Britain. The Conservatives’ promise to repeal the climate change law was a populist posturing aimed at pandering to a Trumpian anti-science right. Work must not flinch. It has been reported that Sir Keir’s aides are advising against traveling to Belém, fearing backlash from Reform UK. The retreat would be cowardly and wrong. Sir Keir should instead reaffirm his commitment to national targets and the COP process – convinced that the shift to renewable energy is both right and popular.
Sir Keir is of course not the only leader who should be planning his trip. Australian and Canadian leaders have both incorporated climate policy into their speeches to voters in recent elections. They too are expected to head to Belém, as are the leaders of the EU, China, India and Japan. As former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pointed out, participation is not a ceremony but a test of leadership. He warned that the world was watching – and said history would remember who showed up.
Mr. Trump’s election victory was a dangerous setback for the global transition to green energy. But 33 years after the Brazilian Earth Summit that launched the process, it also provides a reason for other governments to get involved. Maybe Lula could even convince Mr. Trump to change his mind? If ever there was a time to show that climate is a diplomatic priority, this is it. Sir Keir must not leave the question of his presence unresolved. He must decide – and leave.
