Sources indicate that Argentina has yet to register for participation in the COP30 climate summit. This suggests that the nation might align with the United States in abstaining from the upcoming annual discussions organized by the United Nations, set to commence in Brazil later this week. Last week, the White House confirmed that no senior officials from the United States will be present at the upcoming conference in Belém. On Monday, André Corrêa do Lago announced that nearly 190 countries have confirmed their intention to send representatives. The Argentine government did not promptly respond to a request for comment.
At the COP29 summit held in Azerbaijan in 2017, President Javier Milei of Argentina made the unexpected decision to withdraw all of his negotiators from the proceedings mid-negotiation. This has prompted conjecture regarding Argentina’s potential decision to emulate the United States by withdrawing from the landmark Paris Agreement, which obligates nations to restrict the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Although Argentina has not formally exited, Milei maintains a close alliance with Donald Trump, the President of the United States.
Milei has, akin to Trump, downplayed concerns regarding the implications of global warming. The libertarian leader has articulated support for investments in sustainable energy within Argentina, with his administration implementing tax exemptions and various incentives aimed at promoting wind and solar initiatives. His stance reflects a pragmatic rather than ideological approach, balancing economic liberalization with limited environmental commitments.
In the prior year, he partnered with Rafael Gross to launch a project designed to leverage nuclear technology in Antarctica to mitigate plastic pollution. This initiative marked one of the few international environmental collaborations endorsed by Milei’s administration, highlighting Argentina’s selective participation in global sustainability efforts despite its uncertain stance toward the COP30 summit.