Washington will not send high-level officials to COP30 in Brazil

The U.S. will not send any senior officials to COP30, the United Nations climate conference to be held in Belém, Brazil, from Nov. 10-21, the White House confirmed Saturday to AFP.

The decision reinforces the direction of the Donald Trump administration, which has prioritized boosting the fossil fuel industry and again distanced itself from international climate commitments.

"The U.S. is not sending any high level representatives to COP30," a White House official told the media outlet on condition of anonymity. According to the source, the president "is directly engaging with leaders around the world on energy issues," in reference to recent trade and cooperation agreements that Washington said "have a significant focus on energy partnerships."

Trump, who withdrew from the Paris Agreement for the second time after his return to the White House in January, had already ruled out participating in the leaders' summit prior to the event, which will take place on Nov. 6-7. With this new decision, he will also not send senior climate negotiators to the talks.

Reactions and international context

The announcement comes at a time when fewer than 60 heads of state have confirmed their attendance at COP30, according to the Brazilian government. Among the leaders who will attend are those of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Colombia, Chile, Cape Verde and Liberia, while China will send Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on behalf of President Xi Jinping.

The United States' absence has raised concerns among diplomats and environmentalists, who fear that Washington could withdraw from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, the treaty that underpins the Paris Agreement. Such a move would complicate future governments' return to climate commitments, although doubts remain as to whether the government has the legal authority to do so without Senate approval.