U.S not sending any high-level officials to COP30: White House
- By AFP -
- Nov 01, 2025
The U.S will not send any top officials to the COP30 climate talks in Brazil later this month, a White House official said Saturday, as President Donald Trump instead works to boost fossil fuels.
“The U.S is not sending any high level representatives to COP30,” a White House official said on condition of anonymity.
“The president Trump is directly engaging with leaders around the world on energy issues, which you can see from the historic trade deals and peace deals that all have a significant focus on energy partnerships.”
Brazil offers free cruise cabins at COP30
Dozens of countries have yet to secure accommodation for their delegations at the COP30 climate summit just a week before it opens, with host Brazil offering free cabins on cruise ships to poorer nations in a last-minute bid to ensure they can attend.
Around 50,000 delegates are expected in the rainforest city of Belem, where nearly every government will convene from November 10–21 to negotiate climate goals. But logistical concerns have plagued preparations: Belem usually has only 18,000 hotel beds, sending nightly rates soaring to several hundred dollars.
As of October 31, 149 countries had confirmed lodging, while 37 were still negotiating, the Brazilian government said.
BRAZIL PLEDGES EVERYONE WILL HAVE A SAY
Brazil has vowed to ensure the world’s poorest and most climate-vulnerable nations have their voices heard at the U.N. summit. Soaring accommodation costs had already led the U.N. to hold emergency meetings in response to African countries and small island nations’ warnings that they could not afford to attend – even after Brazil and the U.N. subsidised hotel costs.
A leaked email seen by Reuters showed that Brazil last week offered three free cabins aboard cruise ships moored in Belem to delegations from low-income nations.
The email, sent by the U.N. climate secretariat (UNFCCC), said the cabins would be financed through “private donors” and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, and coordinated by Brazil’s government in partnership with the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP).