Hope and Skepticism as COP30 Opens in Belém - Assalamu Alaikum
Assalamu Alaikum - As delegates meet in Belém, Brazil, for COP30, there’s cautious optimism about protecting the planet but also real doubts about whether enough will be done.
The Paris Agreement’s goal to keep global heating close to 1.5°C is under serious strain, and many countries missed the deadline to update their emission pledges. The US has pulled back from the agreement’s leadership, and several other nations have softened or delayed their commitments.
COP30 will see the launch of a fund to support forest protection, and there’s likely to be more attention on adapting to climate impacts. Belém, at the mouth of the Amazon, has been a controversial choice for the meeting - there are worries that some rainforest was cleared for roads ahead of the summit, and the city faces pressure to host the tens of thousands expected.
Most nations did not submit new nationally determined contributions by the deadline, showing how hard it is to push global emissions down. Some experts hoped countries would arrive with stronger mitigation plans. With that not happening widely, the discussion is shifting to what practical steps can follow, and how to reckon with targets that fall short of the Paris goals.
Temperatures in 2024 were above the 1.5°C marker compared to pre-industrial averages, which is worrying even if single-year numbers don’t by themselves break long-term targets. Public momentum on climate action seems to have eased in some places, and vested interests continue to influence the debate.
UN officials say current pledges could reduce global emissions by roughly 10% by 2035, and there are signs emissions may be peaking. Still, the pace isn’t fast enough and adaptation needs urgent acceleration. Even where national leadership retreats, subnational actors and civil society can keep pushing practical climate measures.
A key COP30 item is the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, a Brazilian-led effort to fund forest conservation in developing countries - more than 70 nations could be eligible. Also expected is a declaration on hunger, poverty and people-centred climate action that stresses fair access to food and sustainable livelihoods.
Food systems matter a lot: inefficient trade and processing can raise emissions and costs. Agriculture and land-use change account for a large share of greenhouse gases. Helping farmers in lower-income countries access better technologies could raise yields without clearing more land, making food supplies more secure for growing populations.
There are reasons for hope - finance for forests, adaptation plans, and improving agriculture - but Muslims who care about stewardship of the earth (khalīfah) will rightly ask for strong, just action that protects communities and future generations.
May Allah guide leaders to act responsibly for His creation.
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