From November 10 through 21, the global elites will gather in Brazil for the United Nations (UN) annual climate conference, known as COP30.

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World leaders, heads of state, diplomats, scientists, activists, non-profits, journalists, royalty, movie stars, and the rest, will make their way – many in private jets — to discuss the urgency of preparing for the worst impacts of climate change.

Climate change, according to the UN, causes “disasters” such as prolonged droughts, flooding, excessive high tides, rising sea levels, raging forest fires, stronger hurricanes, extreme blizzards, and global warming.

In other words, human activity is causing rapid changes to the global climate. Climate “experts” warn that we are running out of time to avoid a climate catastrophe.

Global warming appears to be the UN’s greatest concern. The best way to fight against rising temperatures, they say, is to reduce fossil fuel emissions to zero and invest in new technology to capture and process renewable energy.

All countries are vulnerable to climate change, the UN states, but it’s the developing countries who must provide financial support for action on climate change.

What is COP?

COP stands for Conference of the Parties, and it’s the main decision-making body for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was adopted by the UN in 1992.

COP30 is a gathering of the 197 countries that signed on to the 1992 UNFCC. This is the 30^th year of this summit – hence COP. It’s a call to bring together governments and the private sector to create solutions for the climate “crisis”.

The goal of UNFCC is to “prevent ‘dangerous’ human interference with the climate system.” UNFCC declares they must “act in the interests of human safety even in the face of scientific uncertainty.”

COP30 Theme is the COP of Implementation

COP30 attendees are expected to work on the future of climate action and, according to the World Economic Forum, “deliver the transformational change that climate science demands.” The goals of COP 30 are:

1. Turn talk into action

Countries have been promising for years to reduce their carbon emissions, the chief villain of global warming. But many countries have been dragging their feet to actually put their talk into action. But at COP30, countries will be asked to put forward specific plans to reduce pollution and carbon emissions.

2. Closing the money gap

Rich countries need to step up with more funding for developing countries to implement clean-energy projects. Discussions will take place to develop a road map to mobilize $300 billion a year for climate finance. USAID was once a major donor to COP’s climate spending, but is no longer under Trump’s State Department.

3. Preserve tropical rainforests

Since COP30 is taking place in Belem, Brazil, a city known as ‘the gateway to the Amazon’, there will be added emphasis on protecting rainforests. The attendees will debate Brazil’s Tropical Forest Forever Facility, an initiative to raise $125 billion to help countries maintain their tropical forests. In an ironic twist, Brazil has cut through tens of thousands of acres in the Amazon rainforest to build a four-lane highway for the 50,000 attendees to get to the COP30 climate summit.

4. Social policies

Reducing poverty, creating jobs, and including women, indigenous peoples, and youth to ensure climate justice are on the COP30 agenda as well.

COP30 also hopes to continue accelerating the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables, make progress towards a net-zero world, help countries adapt to climate change, and protect nature.

Climate Change Disagreements

Climate change activists and scientists declare with the utmost authority that the science proving climate change is “undeniable”, as well as “human-induced.”

But is it?

Many scientists and politicians disagree on the causes of climate change and the severity of its impact. Many question the reliability of predictor models to forecast future climate changes, as well as doubt the reliability of the weather and climate data being collected.

For instance, dissenting scientists claim that warming trends are overestimated, and long-term trends show very little temperature change.

Others say warming and cooling periods are part of the Earth’s natural climate cycles, and there is not enough data to prove it’s man-made.

Other scientists believe climate change may be real, but it is not an existential threat. They question the urgency to act. Some say warming may be beneficial, and it’s better to adapt to climate change than try to eliminate carbon emissions.

Dissenting scientists are often punished by the climate establishment of scientists, activists, politicians, and the media. They are dismissed, called climate deniers, and are often censored or silenced. Many are fired from their jobs or sanctioned by scientific organizations.

Are Climate Change Policies Losing Support?

President Trump, on his first day in office, removed the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, calling it “an unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip-off.”

The agreement was for countries to limit global warming to 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce extreme weather caused by climate change. COP30 is looking for actionable carbon-cutting plans from member countries to stop the rise in global temperature.

In his speech at the UN in September, the president called climate change the “greatest con job ever perpetuated on the world”, a “green scam” based on “predictions made by stupid people.”

In March, Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, announced a historic rollback of Biden-era climate change regulations. “We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion to drive down cost of living for American families, unleash American energy, bring auto jobs back to the U.S. and more,” Mr. Zeldin said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the efforts to stop the International Maritime Organization (IMO) from adopting a carbon tax for global shipping.

The European Union is swiftly rolling back environmental policies in its Green Deal. The Guardian is reporting that political support for environmental rules has dried up in several wealthy economies. The UK is facing growing political resistance to the government’s COP pledge for net-zero emissions by 2050.

President Trump has also announced the U.S. will not be sending any “high-level” administration officials to COP30. Instead, the president says he is directly engaging with world leaders on energy partnerships. However, more than 100 state and local leaders announced they will attend COP30.

Polling on climate change reveals a divided America. For instance, one-third of Americans say climate change policies help the economy, one-third say they hurt, and one-third say they make no difference. Half the country says climate policies help the environment, while the other half says they harm or make no difference to the environment.

Bill Gates Pivots Away from Doomsday Climate Warnings

Recently, billionaire Bill Gates, an ardent supporter of climate change, now says climate change won’t be the “end of civilization” as many of the COP30 attendees believe. While COP30 argues for urgent action now to reduce carbon emissions, Mr. Gates says it’s time to “pivot” away from curbing emissions and work to prevent suffering in the world’s poorest countries.

If given the choice between ending malaria and a tenth-degree increase in global temperatures, Mr. Gates said, he’d choose getting rid of malaria. He urged world leaders gathering at COP30 to ask themselves if the money spent on climate change is the right thing to do.

His pivot has sent shockwaves through the climate activist community. Many are calling him just plain wrong. Mr. Gates is advocating for the world to adapt to climate change and is spending money on other energy technologies, such as nuclear power.

God is Sovereign Over the Earth

COP30 is convinced that an extreme and devastating climate crisis is imminent, but is it? They’ll gather in their private jets to earnestly discuss what urgent actions must be taken immediately to save the planet from imminent climate disaster… without any diverse voices or viewpoints.

Climate change may or may not be real or caused by humans using fossil fuels. But as Christians, what we do know is that God is good and He is sovereign. We worship the Creator, not the creation. Earth is our home for as long as God wants it to be, and we shall not fear. Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. (Psalm 46:2-4)

Let’s pray for COP30 and the attendees that they will know this, too.

God said, It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. (Isaiah 45:12) May Cop30 and the decisions made there reflect the glory of the Lord over all the earth.

Let’s Pray for COP30

Dear Heavenly Father, You are the Great Creator of Heaven and Earth. The world was formed at Your command. Nothing in nature would exist if not for You. You have authority over the whole earth, the winds, the seas, and the skies. You rule them, and they instantly obey You. You cover the sky with clouds. You supply the earth with rain and make grass grow on the hills. You send Your command to the earth. Your word runs swiftly. You spread the snow like wool and scatter the frost like ashes. You hurl down hail like pebbles. Who can withstand Your icy blast? You send Your word and melt them. You stir up Your breezes, and the waters flow. (Psalm 147: 8, 15-18)

Lord, may the attendees gathering look to You and acknowledge that You are sovereign. Give them wisdom to make decisions that honor You and your creation. May COP30 attendees view climate change honestly and not through any personal agenda. May they seek Your will. You set the earth on its foundations so it can never be moved. You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight; they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them. You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth. You springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. (Psalm 104:5-10 NIV)

Lord, we pray that we would all care for your creation, seeking Your guidance. Remind us, Lord, that this world is not our home, but one day You will replace this earth with a new, incorruptible earth, so amazing and wonderful we cannot even imagine. The present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. (2 Peter 3:7 NIV)

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1).

How are you praying for COP30? Share with us in the comments below.

Belinda Brewster analyzes cultural, political, and world events from a biblical worldview. Belinda’s passion is to equip, support, and encourage parents and grandparents who are courageously battling against the spiritual and cultural forces impacting children and grandchildren. Photo Credit: IVAN PISARENKO/AFP via Getty Images.