Micheál Martin has expressed “concern” about the low turnout of world leaders at the COP climate conference in Bélem, Brazil.
An Taoiseach is in Brazil for the 30th annual summit but significantly fewer heads of state and government have made the trip than in previous years.
Notably absent were the United States and China - the world’s two biggest emitters of carbon dioxide.
Many poorer nations also struggled to book accommodation in the Brazilian city, which is on the edge of the Amazon rainforest.
On Newstalk Breakfast, reporter Jessica Woodlock, who is in Bélem, said only 52 world leaders had confirmed their attendance last week.
“It was hoped that would increase in the last few days in the 11th hour,” she explained.
“But that wasn’t the case; 57 is the lowest amount of heads of state and world leaders that have been at COP summits for some time.
“Last year, there were 100 and in Glasgow there were upwards of 150.
“That was something that was really noted yesterday with the Taoiseach and others expressing disappointment.”
Climate change is unarguable. The science is undeniable. Temperatures are rising, and the clock is ticking.#COP30 pic.twitter.com/AnKvuoFQaN
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) November 6, 2025
In his speech to the conference, Mr Martin described climate change as “no longer a distant threat”, noting that Storm Éowyn had “brought the strongest wind gusts ever recorded in my country and the highest storm surges on our western seaboard.”
He also added that Ireland is making “real progress” cutting emissions and would support new EU targets to cut emissions 90% by 2040.
“The Taoiseach’s overarching tone was that the world was at a decisive point and needs to do more,” Jessica continued.
“He said he was concerned that that common spirit of working together to fight climate change was weakening.
“He took something of an indirect swipe at US President Donald Trump, who describes climate change as a ‘hoax’.
“With the Taoiseach saying that the science is unarguable and undeniable; by not telling citizens this, he said, world leaders are actually failing them.”
It’s important that we are here in Belém for the #COP30 leaders summit.
Progress has been made but we must keep the momentum going, to keep developing policies and programmes that fundamentally alter the direction of travel for the world. pic.twitter.com/gO1z23B3bG
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) November 6, 2025
Jessica added that the Taoiseach’s call for more action was “very much shared” by those in attendance, noting UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was particularly forthright in his speech.
“He has a reputation for really delivering hard hitting addresses,” she said.
“He did that yesterday; he described the world’s current trajectory as overshooting that 1.5°C global warming target and he said that was a moral failure and deadly negligence.
“He said the United Nations would not give up and said this COP needs to focus on implementation, implementation, implementation.”
My message to leaders at the #COP30 Climate Conference:
We can choose to lead – or be led to ruin.
Choose speed, scale & solidarity.
Choose to make this the turning point.
Stand with science.
Stand for justice & future generations. pic.twitter.com/WRztSxIUlE
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) November 6, 2025
On a logistical level, the COP conference got off to a somewhat chaotic start, with organisers still setting up the venues as world leaders arrived.
“Carpets were being rolled out and not in a metaphorical sense,” Jessica said.
“There were ladders everywhere and at one point, by midday, all the water in the building had turned off.
“And that included the so-called ‘VIP rooms’; the Taoiseach, the Secretary General, Ursula von der Leyen actually had no access to bathrooms and running water.”
COP 30 will conclude on 21st November.
Main image: An Taoiseach at COP30. Picture by: Rolling News.ie.
