From the rainforests of Central America to sinking atolls in the Pacific and drought-stricken plains in Africa, leaders arrived at the United Nations General Assembly with a common message: climate change is no longer a future concern but a present danger demanding urgent, united action.
Their appeals echoed UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s call for the world to embrace the “dawn of a new energy era.” In this era, clean power replaces fossil fuels. Finance and justice form the backbone of global responses.
“The bottom-line: clean is competitive and climate action is imperative,” Guterres declared, urging “dramatic emissions cuts” aligned with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal. He stressed that COP30, set for November in Brazil, must deliver a credible plan to get the world on track.
Spain – Accelerating the Energy Transition
King Felipe VI of Spain called the climate crisis part of a broader “triple planetary crisis” of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. He urged nations to triple renewable energy capacity, double efficiency, and accelerate decarbonisation in time for COP30.
“These objectives are as ambitious as they are necessary,” he warned, cautioning against hesitation.
Panama – Linking Climate, Nature, and Land
President José Raúl Mulino Quintero introduced Panama’s new “Nature Pledge,” which unites commitments on climate, biodiversity, and land restoration.
As one of the world’s few carbon-negative countries, Panama pledged to restore 100,000 hectares of ecosystems, from mangroves to watersheds. “Nature is our first line of defense against climate change,” he said.
Comoros – Small Island, Big Stakes
Comoros President Azali Assoumani described rising seas, erosion, and stronger cyclones threatening his country. He demanded simplified access to climate finance, noting that small island nations cannot afford to wait on slow global mechanisms.
His “Emerging Comoros Plan” focuses on renewable energy, blue economy resources, and digital transition, but he cautioned that without support, debt burdens will undermine progress.
Namibia – Tying Climate Action to Desertification
Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah pointed to severe droughts and floods drying rivers and disrupting communities. She announced Namibia’s bid to host the Africa hub of the Green Climate Fund and called for action on the “Namib Declaration” to fight land degradation and desertification.
Guyana – Valuing Nature
President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana highlighted how his country is balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship. Guyana has become a certified seller of carbon credits while protecting forests and strengthening sea defenses. “Nature has tangible value,” he stressed.
Marshall Islands – Survival on the Line
Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine delivered one of the Assembly’s most urgent messages. For her nation’s 1,200 islands and 29 coral atolls, climate change is about survival.
“We’ve heard the promises – but promises don’t reclaim land in atolls. They don’t build mangrove defenses or shore up hospitals and schools,” she said. “Those things require money.”
She pressed the global community to close the trillion-dollar climate finance gap and deliver stronger commitments at COP30, including a fossil fuel phase-out and halving emissions within this decade.
Looking Ahead to COP30
The speeches underscored both the risks and opportunities ahead of COP30 in Brazil. Leaders stressed that accelerating renewable energy, mobilizing climate finance, and ensuring equity for vulnerable nations are non-negotiable steps if the world is to limit warming and protect ecosystems under threat.