Belém, Brazil – Greenpeace has called on world leaders meeting at the Climate Summit in Belém to send a clear signal to delegates at COP30 that the time has come to bridge the 1.5°C ambition gap.
Carolina Pasquali, Greenpeace COP30 Head of Delegation and Executive Director, Greenpeace Brasil said: “We’re on the brink of climate tipping points and the potential loss of the Amazon, so this COP simply must deliver the urgent change needed. There’s no second chance and it starts with the leaders, who must give COP30 a clear mandate to close the 1.5°C ambition gap.”
“Brazil invited the world to Belém, to witness the challenges and opportunities of a COP on the frontlines of climate change and forest loss. It is also where we have the solutions and the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples to change our future. Together with communities and people, we are here to ensure leaders feel the heat and pressure – symbolically and literally – in order to act now, eliminate fossil fuel use and end forest destruction. It starts here in Belém.”
In Belém at COP30, Greenpeace is calling for:[1]
A Global Response Plan to address the 1.5°C ambition gap and accelerate emissions reductions in this critical decade
A new, dedicated 5-year Forest Action Plan to end deforestation by 2030
Progress on public climate finance from developed countries, including polluter-pays taxation to support mitigation, adaptation and action to address loss and damage in developing countries
Even before the Leaders Summit, however, the EU proposed to cut emissions by 90% including offsets by 2040 compared to 1990, a climate target that falls significantly short of even the minimum that the EU’s own scientific advisers have called for.[2]
Jean-François Julliard, Executive Director, Greenpeace France said: “Urgent action is needed, not ongoing talks or watered down targets. The time to ramp up action and ambition is now, and the EU needs to set the tone in Belém for COP30 to reach the outcome the world needs.”
“As historical emitters and in the Paris Agreement anniversary year, the spotlight is squarely on both France and the EU to lead from the front. Every EU leader is on notice: the 1.5°C limit is severely under threat and a potential overshoot looms. To President Macron and the EU, it’s your move next and only a global response plan will suffice.”
Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific, Greenpeace Australia Pacific said: “As our leaders meet in Belém, we ask them not to lose sight of the 1.5°C limit. 1.5°C is not just a figure; it’s a lifeline for Pacific communities and climate-vulnerable nations facing profound threats to our livelihoods, cultures, our very existence. The legal, moral, and political responsibility for climate action has never been stronger and the ambition leaders take to Belém will define its success.”
“Governments are on notice after the Pacific-led climate victory at the International Court of Justice that delivered a clear message: countries are legally obliged to keep the world within 1.5°C, and more legal challenges will be coming if we continue down the path of fossil fuels.[3]”
“There must be no more free passes or subsidies for the fossil fuel industry or its billionaire backers driving the climate crisis. We urge leaders to act with courage and set a new course for our planet with renewed hope, and a commitment to justice and humanity above profit.”
Ahead of COP30, Greenpeace is calling on governments to turn promises into action through an ambitious forest and climate agenda that puts people, justice, and the planet first. Here’s what we are fighting for in Belém and beyond.
1. A global forest action plan to end deforestation and ecosystem collapse
2. A robust response to the 1.5°C ambition gap, including a fast and fair transition away from fossil fuels
The latest Emissions Gap Report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) finds that new national climate pledges under the Paris Agreement have only slightly lowered projected temperature rise this century — leaving the world on track for around 2.3–2.5°C of warming. The report compares countries’ commitments with what’s needed to stay below the 1.5°C limit, based on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs, the official emission-reduction plans each country submits under the Paris Agreement).
The fossil fuel industry is the main driver of the climate crisis. Around the world, communities are facing an escalating wave of extreme weather disasters, including longer heatwaves, record floods, devastating storms and uncontrolled wildfires. These events are destroying lives, homes and ecosystems, and the science leaves no doubt that fossil fuels are the cause.
The only way to respect the 1.5°C limit is through deep, rapid and equitable reductions in fossil fuel use, ending deforestation and ecosystem loss and by ensuring Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities’ rights are guaranteed and their solutions are supported.
3. Climate finance and accountability: make polluters pay
Communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis are suffering devastating impacts while major polluters continue to profit. Climate justice requires that those most responsible pay their fair share – from oil and gas corporations to billionaires. Greenpeace is calling for new and additional public climate finance for adaptation, emission reduction, and to address loss and damage. Wealthy developed nations must finally deliver on their long-promised financial commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Greenpeace also demands accountability from fossil fuel and agribusiness corporations whose emissions are driving the crisis. Governments must introduce taxes on corporate polluters to fund recovery efforts and climate solutions.
Indigenous leadership is key to keeping forests standing and sustaining the planet’s biodiversity and climate. Recognising and securing Indigenous land rights, knowledge and expertise is essential to protecting critical ecosystems. At COP30, Greenpeace will work alongside Indigenous leaders to call for that recognition and for stronger protection from violence and persecution.
A turning point for people and planet
COP30 must deliver a breakthrough that unites climate and forest action. It is the moment for governments to commit to ending deforestation, phasing out fossil fuels, ensuring climate finance, and protecting those who defend life on Earth.
From Belém to the world, Greenpeace will continue to push for a liveable planet where justice, biodiversity and climate stability prevail. The limit is 1.5°C, a boundary we must not cross.
Fossil gas is an expensive and dangerous trap. It fuels the climate crisis, keeps Europe dependent on autocrats and bullies like Putin and Trump, and drives up energy bills for families. Europe doesn’t need more fossil gas terminals, drilling projects or pipelines. What we need is a fast and fair shift to renewable energy and real energy independence.
That’s why Greenpeace organisations across Europe took action this year: protesting, blocking and demonstrating against fossil gas infrastructure from Spain to Belgium, from Italy to Poland. Together, they connected local fights into an international movement, sending a clear message: wherever corporations and complicit governments try to expand fossil gas, they will meet resistance.
The Journey
Spain: Standing up to Russian gas
The tour kicked off in Avilés, where the Arctic Sunrise opened its decks to the public and joined local activists to protest the arrival of a Russian liquified gas (LNG) shipment.
Belgium: Exposing the LNG trap
Next stop: Belgium, where activists protested the arrival of Russian and US LNG tankers carrying dirty fossil gas to Europe. The port of Zeebrugge is one of Europe’s main gas import hubs, making it a symbol of Europe’s dangerous fossil gas dependency, and the activists made it clear that neither Russian nor US gas is welcome here.
In Venice, hundreds of locals and tourists joined the open boat days as the ship docked in the historic city. Soon after, Greenpeace Italy led an action at the new Ravenna LNG terminal, exposing Prime Minister Meloni’s toxic plan to import even more US fracked gas.
In Pula, Greenpeace Croatia activists climbed up a 135-metre fossil gas platform to demand an end to new gas projects. The team also visited the sunken drilling platform Ivana D to expose the dangers and pollution the gas industry leaves behind.
Fossil gas, oil, and coal are fuelling this heat. We must stop using fuels that endanger lives.That’s why Greenpeace activists from 6 countries protested today at a jack-up platform in Pula, Croatia.Renewables are the future. Sign:www.greenpeace.org/internationa… #StopFossilGas
In Heraklion and Volos, people came aboard to learn how fossil gas threatens their coasts and climate. Between the open boat events, Greenpeace Greece led an action at the Alexandroupolis LNG terminal, standing with communities resisting yet another destructive gas project.
In autumn, the Arctic Sunrise went up north to the Baltic Sea where Greenpeace Poland activists dove 50 meters down to the Nord Stream pipelines. Designed to transport Russian gas to Europe, these pipelines are currently inactive. Yet, Europe is still buying gas from Putin’s regime, fueling Russia’s war on Ukraine. The activists sent a clear message: Europe must stop importing Russian gas, whether through pipelines or LNG tankers.
After an open boat event on the Arctic Sunrise in Stralsund (Baltic Sea), the ship tour continued on the Greenpeace sail ship Witness. On the North Sea island of Borkum, actor Philip Froissant and political content creator Fabian Grishkat met with local communities and travelled to the nearby gas fields. Opening new gas drilling sites in the middle of the climate crisis is a reckless political choice that people on Borkum have opposed for years.
The fossil-free ship tour ended with a bold action in Belgium’s LNG hub, Zeebrugge. Greenpeace activists from across Europe blocked the terminal on board the Witness and with dozens of kayaks. At least two LNG ships were delayed or had to change course. It was a powerful finale that sent a clear message: the fossil gas era must end.
The resistance keeps growing and so does hope. Renewables are the way out of Europe’s fossil fuel dependency. They are the key to affordable energy for families, a safer planet, and a livable future for our children.
Join this vision of a fossil-free future and sign the open letter now.
Respect the Amazon
Polluters Pay Pact
We must stop using fuels that endanger lives.That’s why Greenpeace activists from 6 countries protested today at a jack-up platform in Pula, Croatia.Renewables are the future.
Sign:www.greenpeace.org/internationa… #StopFossilGas
(@greenpeace.org) 2025-07-04T11:30:11.070Z
Ban new fossil fuel projects