VIDEO: ‘Time is running out’: Browne issues climate warning in High House COP30 session

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, has urged world leaders to increase their climate ambitions and deliver on long-promised commitments, warning that small island states remain on the frontline of the global crisis.

Speaking during a COP30 session hosted by High House in Belém, Brazil, Mr Browne said that although this year’s summit had attracted fewer world leaders than previous conferences, the focus must remain on securing meaningful outcomes.

Around 57 heads of state or government are attending COP30, compared with more than 150 at earlier summits. Mr Browne attributed the drop partly to Belém’s remote location and the cost of travel, noting that his own trip from Antigua and Barbuda took nearly 30 hours despite the geographical proximity.

He said financial constraints had also forced some nations to reduce the size of their delegations, including his own. But he stressed that those who did attend had demonstrated genuine commitment to advancing climate action.

“We are now at the tipping point of 1.5C,” he said, adding that even a temporary overshoot could intensify extreme weather events and cause irreversible damage in vulnerable regions. He called for rapid updates to national climate plans and urged major emitters to “bend the curve backwards” by reducing emissions at scale.

Mr Browne acknowledged long-standing criticism that COP summits often produce ambitious speeches and pledges that go unfulfilled. While he said some past leaders had “used the platform” without delivering results, he argued that a broader cultural shift was needed.

“To effectively address climate change, we need an all-of-society approach in which voters hold their leaders accountable,” he said.

The prime minister welcomed early signs of progress at the talks, including new commitments from Norway to support Brazil’s efforts to protect the Amazon rainforest. He said he hoped the negotiations would lead to stronger pledges on ambition, finance and accountability.

COP30 continues this week with a renewed focus on implementing the Paris Agreement and enhancing support for climate-vulnerable nations.

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