Economic Denial Threatens Climate Progress as Cop30 Approaches

As the world gears up for the pivotal Cop30 climate summit in Belém this November, Brazilian diplomat André Corrêa do Lago has issued a stark warning: the newest obstacle in the climate fight isn’t denial of science—it’s denial of economics. In an interview with The Guardian, Corrêa do Lago argued that while the days of outright climate science denial may be fading, a new form of resistance is taking root. He calls it “economic denial”—a refusal to accept that transforming our fossil-fuelled economy into a low-carbon one can be both achievable and beneficial.

The challenge now, he explains, is to persuade global leaders and citizens that climate policy is not a financial burden, but a long-term economic opportunity. Corrêa do Lago, an economist by training, emphasizes the urgency of rallying economists to show that climate action leads to prosperity—not decline. Despite overwhelming evidence from major reports, including an upcoming OECD and UN Development Programme study, many governments and corporations still exclude climate impacts from financial planning.

At Cop30, Corrêa do Lago will face pressure not only from logistical hurdles and hesitant countries, but also from powerful interests seeking to derail or delay climate commitments. So far, only a small fraction of countries have submitted updated national climate plans, despite a February deadline. As climate events intensify and the Amazon—host of this year’s summit—faces environmental pressures, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

We’ve seen before that coordinated global action can work—the ozone crisis proved that. But inaction now could accelerate irreversible damage. The future hinges not just on political will, but on rejecting the myth that climate solutions are too costly.

It’s time to champion systems that prioritise both the planet and people. Support plant-based policies, green energy investments, and responsible finance. Let’s push for an economy that sustains life, not destroys it.

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