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Upper intermediate level

COP30: Are climate talks effective at fighting climate change?

Episode 251112 / 12 Nov 2025

(Photo by Dado Galdeiri/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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The story

Two weeks of international climate talks began this week in Belém in Brazil. COP is an annual gathering of politicians and negotiators from around the world to discuss climate change and make agreements to help deal with the problem. 

Some important people have decided not to attend, such as US President Donald Trump. Some experts think that because some powerful leaders aren’t attending the talks, they won’t make any progress, although others believe the negotiations are still very important for fighting climate change.

In a speech on the first day of the talks, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned about the dangers of fake news and climate deniers, people who incorrectly argue that human-caused climate change is not real.

News headlines

Who are the major players at Cop30 and what do they want?
The Guardian

COP30: Trump and many leaders are skipping it, so does the summit still have a point?
BBC News

Muted global business turnout at COP30 reflects subdued mood
The Financial Times

Key words and phrases

major player
important person or organisation within a particular situation

  • They mayor hopes to become a major player in negotiations about a new railway.

point
purpose or meaning

  • I don’t see the point in ironing my clothes – they’ll only get creased again.

muted
not very enthusiastic or excited

  • The CEO’s new ideas received a muted response from staff at the company meeting.

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