United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told countries represented at the COP30 climate summit in Belem on Thursday (November 20) that he welcomes calls to ensure a deal clarifies the global transition away from fossil fuels.

"I welcome calls for a just transition mechanism and the growing coalition asking for clarity on the transition away from fossil fuel," he told a press conference at the summit.

The diplomat also stressed the world's need to triple adaptation finance by 2030, something he deemed "essential" to reach climate goals.

The two-week U.N. summit in the Amazon city of Belem has brought nearly 200 countries together to try to ratchet up multilateral action to limit climate change, despite the absence of the United States, the top historic greenhouse gas emitter.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 20, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. DELEGATES AND PRESS AT COP30 VENUE

2. PLENARY ROOM AT VENUE

3. DELEGATES AND PRESS AT COP30 VENUE

BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 20, 2025) (COP30 POOL - Access all)

4. PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, ANTONIO GUTERRES, SAYING:

"With the right support, it is essential that most countries peak emissions now, slash them in half this decade, hit net-zero by 2050, and go net-negative after. The principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities applies. But every country – especially the big emitters – must do more. And the world must begin a just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels – as agreed at COP28 in Dubai."

BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 20, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

6. VARIOUS OF DELEGATES, PRESS AT COP30 VENUE

BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 20, 2025) (COP30 POOL - Access all)

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, ANTONIO GUTERRES, SAYING:

"I welcome calls for a just transition mechanism – and the growing coalition asking for clarity on the transition away from fossil fuels. And I urge countries to ensure that the Belém outcome operationalizes a just transition that is aligned with a 1.5-degree world."

BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 20, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

8. VARIOUS OF DELEGATES AND PRESS AT COP30 VENUE

BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 20, 2025) (COP30 POOL - Access all)

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, ANTONIO GUTERRES, SAYING:

"Over the past days, I have met with world leaders, ministers, negotiators, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, and young people from every region. One thing is clear: We are down to the wire, and the world is watching Belém.

Communities on the frontlines are watching too – counting flooded homes, failed harvests, lost livelihoods... And asking: how much more must we suffer? They have heard enough excuses. They demand results."

BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 20, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

10. VARIOUS OF DELEGATES AND PRESS AT COP30 VENUE

BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 20, 2025) (COP30 POOL - Access all)

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, ANTONIO GUTERRES, SAYING:

"I strongly appeal to all delegations to show willingness and flexibility to deliver results that protect people and keep 1.5 degrees alive; A fair outcome – concrete on funding adaptation, credible on emission cuts, bankable on finance. That demands compromise and common ground. It demands courage. No delegation will leave Belem with everything it wants… But every delegation has a duty to reach a balanced deal."

BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 20, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

12. VARIOUS OF DELEGATES AND PRESS AT COP30 VENUE

BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 20, 2025) (COP30 POOL - Access all)

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, ANTONIO GUTERRES, SAYING:

"For millions, adaptation is not an abstract goal. It is the difference between rebuilding and being swept away;

Between replanting and starving; Between staying on ancestral land or losing it forever. Adaptation needs are skyrocketing – and the overshoot will push them even higher. Yet developed countries’ commitment to double adaptation finance this year is slipping away. Tripling adaptation finance by 2030 is essential."

BELEM, PARA, BRAZIL (NOVEMBER 20, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

14. EXTERIORS OF COP30 VENUE / BRAZILIAN FLAG