EU Climate Chief Calls U.S. Absence From COP30 a “Watershed Moment”. EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra has described the U.S.’s expected absence from the COP30 climate summit as a “watershed moment” for global climate diplomacy. Speaking to Bloomberg, Hoekstra said the U.S. — “the largest, most dominant geopolitical player” and the world’s second-largest emitter — withdrawing from key climate talks “clearly does damage.” COP30, set to begin on November 10 in Belém, Brazil, comes amid Washington’s shift away from climate commitments under President Donald Trump’s administration. The Trump administration has said it will not send “high level representatives” to the summit and has again moved to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate accord. Trump’s team also recently lobbied nations at the UN’s maritime agency to reject a global carbon emissions fee for shipping. Hoekstra warned that the global response to climate change remains weak, with about 100 nations — including EU members — failing to strengthen their 2030 emission targets. He urged leaders to “get concrete” on adaptation, carbon markets, and practical climate measures, while criticizing China’s ongoing construction of coal plants. Hoekstra said China’s emissions targets remain “far too low,” noting experts had hoped for reductions “north of 30 percent,” but Beijing’s commitment appears “below 10 percent.” [Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT]