The COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, unfolds amid escalating geopolitical tensions and a notable absence of key global leaders, including US President Donald Trump, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and China’s Xi Jinping. This year’s gathering highlights a troubling trend, with only 106 out of 194 nations submitting updated climate plans, a stark contrast to previous summits. The disparity in participation has drawn criticism, particularly as representatives from developing nations have voiced the urgent need for climate action while wealthier countries falter in their commitments. Brazil, as host, is pushing for a focus on implementation, including a Baku-Belem Roadmap aimed at mobilizing $1.3 trillion to support climate resilience in poorer nations. As calls for multilateral cooperation grow louder, the summit’s ability to foster meaningful dialogue and action remains uncertain, especially against the backdrop of diverging strategies for energy transition between major powers like the US and China. This context underscores the ongoing struggle to balance economic interests with the pressing necessity of climate action, as nations grapple with the reality of increasingly frequent climate-related disasters.