UN Chief Calls for "Ambitious Compromise" in Climate Negotiations. Nov 20, 2025

António Guterres — the former Portuguese prime minister who, more than any other secretary-general before him, has made climate his main focus — delivered an urgent message (Pablo PORCIÚNCULA). (Pablo PORCIÚNCULA/AFP/AFP).

By AFP - Agence France Presse

UN Chief Calls for "Ambitious Compromise" in Climate Negotiations

Issam AHMED

With the UN climate negotiations nearing their end in Belém, the head of the world organization urged nations on Thursday to reach an "ambitious compromise" that keeps alive the goal of limiting long-term global warming to the critical limit of 1.5°C.

Nearly 200 countries have spent the last two weeks debating issues at COP30 — from a "roadmap" for transitioning away from fossil fuels, proposed by host country Brazil, to concerns about weak emissions reduction plans, financing for developing countries, and trade barriers.

Antonio Guterres — the former Portuguese prime minister who made climate change his main focus — delivered an urgent message. "The world is watching Belém," he told reporters during a morning press conference, as nations await a new draft version of the negotiating text before the summit officially closes on Friday evening.

"Communities on the front lines are also watching – counting flooded homes, lost crops, lost livelihoods, and wondering how much more we will have to suffer?"

"Please participate in good faith," he urged, to reach an "ambitious compromise," adding that "1.5 degrees should be your only red line."

COP30 takes place 10 years after nations agreed in Paris to limit human-caused global warming to 1.5°C – and at least well below 2°C – to avoid the worst impacts of climate destabilization.

Evidence now indicates that the world will almost certainly exceed the 1.5°C target, although humanity can still influence the duration of this excess.

"For now, the evidence indicates that the world will almost certainly exceed the 1.5°C target, although humanity can still influence the duration of this excess." — "Our islands may disappear" —

Guterres' appeal came after Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in the northern city on the edge of the Amazon on Wednesday in a bold attempt to seal an early agreement on the summit's thorniest issues.

Although that attempt failed, Lula, who invested political capital in what he called his "COP of truth," put his "roadmap" for transitioning away from fossil fuels back at the top of the agenda.

The proposal is supported by a coalition of more than 80 countries, but is opposed by the oil-producing bloc.

Negotiators are also at odds over pressure from the developing world for developed countries to provide more financing to help vulnerable nations adapt to climate change and deploy renewable energy.

The COP29 summit in Baku last year concluded with developed nations agreeing to provide $300 billion a year in climate finance, a figure criticized by developing countries as woefully insufficient.

The EU, where many countries are facing economic headwinds and soaring debt, has led the opposition to demands for more money.

Vulnerable nations warn that failure to deliver meaningful finance that enables decisive action will have existential consequences.

"The discussions and the negotiations that we're engaging in could mean that the future of my grandchildren can be secured, or that our islands could disappear," Steven Victor, Palau's minister for agriculture, fisheries, and the environment, said Thursday.

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