At the Cop30 climate summit in Belém, Jamaica and other vulnerable nations issued urgent appeals for stronger global action to combat climate change. As ministers entered the second week of negotiations, developing countries stressed that rising temperatures and extreme weather events threaten their very survival.
Jamaica’s economic growth minister, Matthew Samuda, highlighted the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, which caused billions in damage and displaced hundreds of thousands. He urged major emitters to honor their climate commitments and protect the 1.5°C limit, calling the fight for climate stability “a matter of survival.”
Cuba, Mauritius, and other nations echoed the same message, emphasizing that climate destruction is already part of their daily lives and that cutting emissions is a moral responsibility. Mauritius’s foreign affairs minister warned that global inaction jeopardizes the existence of small island states.
Climate officials noted that while technical progress has been made on issues such as food security and loss-and-damage procedures, major disagreements remain on finance, transparency, trade, and stronger national climate plans. These unresolved areas continue to block faster progress toward global climate goals.
Leaders emphasized that the window for meaningful action is closing, urging wealthier nations to accelerate emissions cuts and provide financial support to nations most at risk.