‘Creation is crying out’ — Pope Leo calls for stronger climate action as COP30 enters final week

Pope Leo XIV has implored world leaders to match their climate commitments with concrete action.

In a message delivered on Monday to Churches of the Global South gathered at the Amazonian Museum of Belém, Brazil, the pontiff said the Amazon remains a “living symbol of creation” in urgent need of care, and that the region’s plight reflects the wider climate emergency facing millions.

The pontiff warned that political hesitation is undermining global efforts to protect vulnerable communities from worsening climate impacts

He said the faithful had chosen “hope and action over despair”, but progress recorded so far remains insufficient.

“Hope and determination must be renewed, not only in words and aspirations, but in concrete actions,” he said.

Pope Leo warned that climate change is already intensifying floods, droughts, storms and extreme heat, leaving one in three people in a state of high vulnerability.

He added that the world still has a chance to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, and that the Paris Agreement remains the strongest global tool for safeguarding people and ecosystems, but insisted that it is political leaders who are falling short.

The Pope called for stronger policies and scaled-up support for vulnerable nations, he noted that ambitious climate action will also help build “fairer and more stable economic systems”.

“We are guardians of creation, not rivals for its spoils. Let us send a clear global signal together: nations standing in unwavering solidarity behind the Paris Agreement and behind climate cooperation,” he added.

COP30 ENTERS FINAL WEEK

The UN climate summit, which began on November 10 has entered its final week, with ministers from around the world now stepping in to tackle the toughest issues negotiators were unable to resolve.

Their task is to elevate the remaining disputes to the political level and push the talks toward a workable outcome.

Speaking on Monday during the high-level segment, Simon Stiell, UN climate chief, urged ministers to “get to the hardest issues fast”, warning that the world loses out when unresolved matters are pushed “deep into extra time”.

“We absolutely cannot afford to waste time on tactical delays or stone-walling. The time for performative diplomacy has now passed.  Now’s the time to roll-up our sleeves, come together, and get the job done,” Stiell said.

The absence of the United States — a major greenhouse gas emitter — has cast a shadow over the talks.

President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the country from the Paris Agreement has left other parties scrambling to mobilise financial commitments for developing nations, as required under article 9.1 of the accord.

Key sticking points expected to dominate the final days include debates over the EU’s carbon border tax, efforts to finalise adaptation indicators, and negotiations on climate finance through the Belém-to-Baku roadmap.

This report was produced with support from Sahara Group and the Kaduna state government