The devastating floods in South Asia, wildfires in North America, and record temperatures in Europe highlight a harsh reality: climate change is progressing faster than political responses. In light of this alarming situation, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a Climate Summit to be held in New York on September 24, coinciding with the high-level week of the General Assembly. This meeting aims to pressure countries to intensify their climate commitments ahead of the Climate Change Conference (COP30), scheduled for November in Belém, Brazil.
Unlike conventional negotiations, the summit will focus on presenting concrete proposals from heads of state, governments, businesses, and representatives of civil society. The purpose is for signatories of the Paris Agreement to showcase new or updated measures that demonstrate bold commitments for the next decade. However, Guterres has warned that current commitments are clearly insufficient, with only a minority of nations having viable plans for 2025.
The situation is further complicated by political fragmentation and the recent withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, creating uncertainty about the promised financial support for developing nations. Nevertheless, there are glimmers of hope, such as the investment in clean energy, which reached $2 trillion in 2024, surpassing fossil fuels for the first time.
The outcomes of this summit in New York are considered crucial for defining the agenda of COP30, which will focus on climate justice, environmental protection, and the adoption of renewable energy. The international community is watching closely to see if major emitters will be able to present plans to close the emissions gap, scale up financing—especially regarding the Loss and Damage Fund—and recognize that the expansion of fossil fuels is incompatible with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The future of this agreement depends on the results of the summit. For many communities affected by climate disasters, such as the floods in Pakistan and India, climate change is seen not as an opportunity but as a matter of survival. Although this September meeting will not replace COP30, it could be equally decisive if bold commitments and effective financing are achieved.
Additionally, the General Assembly will include Solution Dialogues, where local governments, businesses, and civil society can collaborate and discuss strategies in key areas such as mitigation, adaptation, and other cross-cutting issues. The proposals that arise from these dialogues will be integrated into a summary to be presented at the end of the event.
via: MiMub in Spanish