The 30th UN Climate Conference opens on 10 November in the Amazonian city of Belém, which is expecting around 50,000 visitors from nearly 200 countries. Despite criticism over limited infrastructure, participants are determined to make the most of the event.
Climate Youth Delegate Lara Bertemes said she is travelling to Brazil with optimism, hoping that the host nation’s spirit of unity, symbolised by the slogan Mutirãu, meaning “coming together”, will inspire more ambitious negotiations than in previous years.
She will be joined by seven secondary school students from four Luxembourg schools. According to Julien Lemmer Veloso of Youth4Climate Action, this year’s conference should place young people at the centre of decision-making, ensuring that the policies and agreements made reflect their future.
The young participants view their role mainly as one of exchange, allowing them to engage with peers and civil society actors, but they still expect tangible political progress. Lemmer Veloso stressed that Luxembourg should actively push for youth interests to be included in the negotiations and remain committed to achieving the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement.
He warned that time is running out: last year, the global average temperature temporarily exceeded the 1.5°C threshold compared to pre-industrial levels. Bertemes added that the EU’s lack of a common stance on 2040 climate goals risks undermining its credibility, expressing relief that Luxembourg continues to back an ambitious target.
While students appreciate Luxembourg’s engagement, they remain cautious about the overall outcome of COP30. Leona Kalev, also from Youth4Climate Action, said she hopes to see genuine action rather than more polished political speeches, real decisions that lead to measurable change.
Meanwhile, several NGOs demonstrated outside the Luxembourg Parliament this week during a debate on climate policy, urging the government to remain consistent in its commitments. Martina Holbach from Greenpeace criticised the government for supporting the EU-Mercosur trade agreement while opposing stricter anti-deforestation rules, calling this stance contradictory given its pledge to protect forests. Esmeralda Wirtz from Amnesty International said climate financing must increase to ensure fairness for countries most affected by global warming despite their limited responsibility for it.
During the same debate, MPs from The Left (déi Lénk) and the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) criticised the European Commission’s lack of ambition. MP David Wagner of The Left accused it of treating climate policy as a burden on capitalism rather than a priority, while MP Franz Fayot of the LSAP warned that deregulation in Europe risks weakening the continent’s leadership in environmental protection.
Environment Minister Serge Wilmes reiterated Luxembourg’s call for the EU to commit to a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared with 1990 levels, arguing that early decisions and investments are crucial to avoid much higher future costs.
Back to young people, they remain driven by a sense of urgency. Kalev reflected that if Western nations continue their current high energy consumption without changing course, the natural beauty still abundant in the world could soon be lost, and that is precisely what motivates her to keep fighting.
