The President of France promised to close all coal-fired power plants.
A few days before the official opening of the 30th UN Climate Conference (COP30), French President Emmanuel Macron spoke at a summit of heads of state and government arriving in Belém, Brazil, in preparation for the forum. In his speech, he discussed the moral and legal responsibilities of states regarding climate preservation, announced new commitments from France to protect tropical forests, and warned against "heralds of disorder" undermining trust in science.
At the meeting, marked by the absence of leaders from the US, China, India, and Russia — the largest global emitters of greenhouse gases, the French president urged world leaders to "double their efforts" against climate change and sharply condemned climate skepticism, without directly naming its chief proponent, Donald Trump.
The summit precedes the opening of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), which will take place in Belém from November 10 to 21 and will gather representatives from 197 countries and the European Union.
The conference is particularly significant. It takes place ten years after the adoption of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which set the goals for global climate policy; the current summit aims to summarize a decade — its successes and failures — and mobilize the international community for more decisive action.
Brazil Takes the Baton
The leaders' summit, organized by Brazil on November 6–7, was conceived as a political prelude to COP30. Among the European participants, besides Emmanuel Macron, were German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Unlike COP21 in Paris, the leaders of the largest economies and major sources of emissions — the US and China — were not present in Belém. The Trump administration confirmed it would not send an official delegation, Beijing was represented only by a member of the Ministry of Ecology, and Russia's participation remains minimal due to its international isolation following the start of the war in Ukraine.
Not Naming Trump
"At a time when the prophets of disorder sow doubt about the urgency of the climate crisis and question the most well-founded conclusions, we must defend science and rely on scientific data in our policies," Macron stated, not directly mentioning Trump, who made the decision for the US to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
"Climate disinformation poses a threat to our democracies, to the fulfillment of Paris commitments, and therefore to collective security," he emphasized, calling for support for scientists and reliance on scientific data.
The French president added that besides legal obligations, there is a "moral duty to the most vulnerable countries and future generations." He acknowledged that global efforts are currently insufficient to keep the rate of warming within 1.5 °C. According to the UN, by the end of the century, temperatures could rise by approximately 2.5 °C.
Coal, Forests, and Oceans
Macron outlined three priorities for France at COP30. The first is the phase-out of coal as the most emission-intensive source of energy.
"France has already closed its last two thermal power plants, and by 2027, coal will be completely eliminated from the energy mix," he noted.
The second and third priorities are the protection of the two largest natural carbon sinks: forests and oceans. "Primary forests are the most effective terrestrial carbon sinks, complementing mangroves and seabeds," the president said.
He reminded that 75% of terrestrial biodiversity is concentrated in primary forests, which are the "largest reserves of irrecoverable carbon."
500 million euros for tropical forest protection A key part of his speech was the support for the new international Tropical Forest Financing Mechanism (TFFF), launched by President Lula under the auspices of the World Bank. Brazil contributed $1 billion to the fund, Indonesia the same amount, and Colombia $250 million.
"A few months ago, President Lula and I agreed to allocate one billion euros for the Amazon. The French Development Agency has already disbursed 400 million euros for forest conservation and bioeconomy," Macron stated.
He added that France will allocate another 500 million euros by 2030, which "could go to the TFFF" provided that transparency and scientific monitoring conditions are met — including satellite monitoring under the One Forest Vision program and national targeting of projects.
Macron also noted Brazil's achievements: "You, Mr. President, have achieved impressive results, reducing deforestation rates by 50% since 2022."
European Initiatives
The French leader urged the largest emitters to "follow the example of the European Union," which is conducting "one of the most ambitious climate policies in the world."
"When Europe makes a commitment — it fulfills it. We need all major emitters to join this path, which implies a gradual phase-out of fossil fuels," he stated, referring to the COP28 decision in Dubai.
President Macron also emphasized the need for a fair distribution of climate costs:
"Government efforts cannot rest on the shoulders of a few countries. Everyone who is able must take responsibility."
This reflects the position of France and the EU, demanding the participation of new major economies — China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — in financing climate adaptation alongside traditional donors.
