As COP30 Opens, the World Is Moving Forward Without the White House 

BELEM, Brazil — World leaders are gathering for annual global talks (COP 30) to discuss the next phase of international cooperation to confront the climate crisis. The meeting falls 10 years after the historic Paris Agreement and follows President Trump’s September address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York where he called climate change “the biggest con job ever.” 

A statement follows from NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) president Manish Bapna: 

“In the face of unprecedented headwinds in the White House, it is more important than ever for leaders outside of Washington to keep progress moving forward in the face of the climate crisis. That is not only critical to protect people worldwide from its growing impacts—but it is also the economic opportunity of a generation. 

“Perhaps in no other time in history have leaders in Washington been more determined to pull the United States backward in the fight against the climate crisis—tearing lucrative clean energy industries down to propping dirty energy up, at every turn. While that benefits an elite set of fossil fuel billionaires, it sidelines American workers and will raise energy costs for families across the country. 

“The good news for the climate fight is the United States is bigger than Washington, and the world is bigger than the United States. The world is shifting to clean energy. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when,’ and which countries will lead the way and reap the economic reward.  

“When world leaders regroup they must be bold in both actions and words. That means setting strong new climate targets and turning promises into progress at home. It means recognizing that trees are more valuable standing than cut—and essential to the climate fight. It means better protecting people from the impacts of a crisis that is already here and growing. And it means supporting the countries that have contributed the least to the problem but are suffering the most, and have the fewest resources to combat it. 

“That’s how the world can keep climate progress moving without the White House and invest in the future health, safety and prosperity of people all over the world. President Trump may slow the clean energy train down, but it is moving forward with or without him. All who see the clear and undeniable benefits are welcome aboard.” 

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).