Mayors, Governors Worldwide Denounce Trump at Rio Climate Summit

Global Leaders Condemn Trump’s Climate Stance at Rio Summit

The first day of the Global Forum of Local Leaders, held in Rio de Janeiro ahead of COP30 in Belém, saw a wave of criticism directed towards former U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in undermining global efforts to combat climate change.

Strong Criticism from Mayors and Governors

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, co-chairing the C40 Cities coalition—a network of cities dedicated to fighting climate change—delivered a stinging critique. “The era of denial is over,” he declared, emphasizing that the U.S. now stands as the leading ‘climate destroyer’ in the world.

Khan’s statement mirrored the sentiment echoed by other attending leaders who reaffirmed their commitment to addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. During his remarks at the opening ceremony held at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM), Khan stated, “It’s no longer about who fights climate change and who denies it. It’s now an existential battle between the climate destroyers and us, the defenders of the climate.” His words underscored the growing divide between subnational leaders and the federal government under Trump’s administration.

Local Leaders Call for Increased Funding and Multilateralism

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, in his opening remarks, highlighted the importance of including subnational governments in COP discussions. He argued that there needs to be more funding available for urban climate initiatives, particularly focusing on supporting cities in the Global South. Paes stressed, “There has to be a stronger global climate finance system and resources must be allocated more equitably—especially toward cities in the so-called Global South, which have historically been ignored.”

Paes’s call echoed the broader theme of multilateralism, as Ana Toni, executive director of COP30, emphasized. She noted that local governments will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of COP30, scheduled for November 11-21. “We can only achieve our goals with mayors and governors on the front line,” she said, urging U.S. mayors to step up despite their federal government’s absence from international climate discussions.

U.S. Climate Alliance Reports Substantial Progress

The U.S. Climate Alliance, comprising 24 states representing 54% of the U.S. population and 57% of its economy, released an annual report during the forum. The report demonstrated that member states had reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 24% from 2005 to 2023 while their GDP grew by 34%.

This progress was attributed to the expansion of clean technologies. Despite the federal government’s efforts to roll back climate progress, these states remained committed to their environmental agenda.

Governor Tony Evers of Wisconsin and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico participated in the report’s presentation, further highlighting the discrepancy between state-level actions and federal policies. Evers emphasized the challenges his state faced, stating, “We were forced to confront a federal government that is determined to roll back climate progress while our national leaders deny basic scientific principles, harm industries and American jobs, and raise costs for families.” Lujan Grisham added, “It’s disappointing and troubling to have a federal government that rejects this progress and fails to invest in it.

But what the report shows is that, regardless of the country’s political future, states can make an incredible difference on their own.”

The Global Forum of Local Leaders in Rio de Janeiro serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing global effort to combat climate change, even as federal leadership wavers. As COP30 approaches, the focus remains on multilateralism and the critical role that subnational governments play in driving progress.