At a high-stakes climate summit in Brazil, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a sobering message to world leaders that the global consensus on fighting climate change is unraveling just as the planet faces its hottest era in recorded history.
“The consensus is gone,” Starmer declared, striking a somber tone as he addressed the gathering amid growing doubts over whether the world can still meet its key climate targets. His comments came as scientists warn that limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the central goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement — is now “virtually impossible.”
The United Nations has described this shortfall as a “moral failure and deadly negligence,” with Secretary-General António Guterres warning that global inaction is pushing humanity to the brink of catastrophe.
Ahead of the conference, Prince William had appealed for unity and action, calling climate change “a fast-approaching threat” and warning that the planet is “edging dangerously close to a tipping point.” While his remarks carried a note of hope, Starmer’s address reflected a harsher political reality — one in which economic pressures and ideological divides are weakening the world’s collective resolve.
Starmer reaffirmed that the United Kingdom remains “all in” on tackling climate change but admitted that financial constraints limit its contributions. He announced that the UK would not add new funds to a proposed $125 billion global initiative designed to protect tropical forests — a key COP30 proposal championed by Prince William and shortlisted for his £1 million Earthshot Prize.
“We simply can’t add a penny more right now,” Starmer said, citing Britain’s ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The statement drew disappointment from environmental advocates and some leaders at the summit, who view the Amazon rainforest as a critical line of defense against climate breakdown.
Despite the withdrawal of financial support, Starmer emphasized the Amazon’s importance, describing it as “a vital organ for the Earth, regulating the climate for every person on this planet.” He urged world leaders to treat the climate struggle as “a truly collective endeavour.”
However, unity appeared elusive as political tensions flared. The absence of U.S. President Donald Trump — who declined to attend the talks — provoked a wave of condemnation from Latin American leaders.
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric accused Trump of “spreading a lie” by denying the reality of climate change, while Colombia’s Gustavo Petro went further, declaring: “Mr. Trump is against humankind. We can see the collapse that can happen if the U.S. does not decarbonize its economy. He is 100% wrong.”
