Climate Diplomats Convene in Berlin to Shape COP30 Agenda Amidst Rising Geopolitical Tensions

Climate diplomats convened in Berlin to shape the agenda for the COP30 climate summit in Brazil. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that opposition to slowing climate change is growing, emphasizing the need for stronger action to secure global economic stability. The Petersberg talks mark a critical milestone on the way to the COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, following a year of extreme weather. German climate envoy Jennifer Morgan stated the Paris Agreement was "alive and well" and called on countries to "chart the course for international cooperation" on climate change. An OECD-UNDP study released Tuesday indicated that accelerated climate action could boost global GDP by 0.2% by 2040 and 3% by mid-century compared with the status quo. EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said the bloc would be submitting its latest NDCs "in the near future."