Global leaders are about to gather in Belém, Brazil, for Cop30. The symbolism of this location – on the edge of the Amazon, one of the planet’s most vital carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots – should not be lost on us. The stakes could not be higher.
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is unequivocal: the world is not on track to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. Global emissions remain near record highs, and extreme weather events – from flooding in Europe to wildfires in Canada and drought across Africa – are now an almost weekly reminder of what climate change means in lived reality.
As an ornithologist, the evidence of change is undeniable. Globally, 61 per cent of bird species are in decline. The discovery of Asian hornets in Ireland is an alarming signal our flora and fauna will change significantly over the coming decades. Crucially, the science shows the window for meaningful action is narrowing fast. Every year of delay locks in greater risk, higher costs and more irreversible damage.
This is why this Cop30 is crucial. In 2015 the Paris Climate Agreement saw nearly 200 countries agree a series of measures to tackle climate change.
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