Al Gore Slams Global Inaction on Climate Crisis at COP30

The Peoples Summit, a gathering of civil society campaigners, began alongside the main climate talks at the COP30 conference, with a climate justice flotilla of more than 100 boats and 5,000 indigenous activists, forest defenders, and other campaigners arriving in the host city. The International Energy Agency (IEA) launched its 2025 World Energy outlook, which revealed that more renewables will be built between now and 2030 than in the last 40 years combined. Despite these developments, the world remains on course to reach Peak Oil (and coal) by 2030, according to the report. Former US Vice President Al Gore expressed his frustration at the pace of progress, stating, "It's literally insane that we are letting global heating happen." Gore's comments came as a new report by Amnesty International found that a quarter of the world's population lives within three miles (5km) of operational fossil fuel projects, potentially threatening the health of more than 2 billion people. The report highlighted the need for urgent action to address the impacts of climate change on human health. The COP30 Presidency's open plenary stocktake lasted only three minutes, with officials announcing that more consultations were needed. Further talks are planned for Thursday and Friday, with the stocktake postponed until Saturday. The Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change, signed by 12 countries, marks the first time any states have formally committed to rooting out climate disinformation. The IEA's 2025 World Energy outlook provides a glimmer of hope, with the agency predicting that renewable energy will become the dominant source of power by 2030. However, the report also notes that the world is still on track to reach Peak Oil (and coal) by 2030, despite efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources. The Amnesty International report highlights the need for urgent action to address the impacts of climate change on human health, particularly in communities living near fossil fuel projects. The Peoples Summit is seen as a key opportunity for civil society campaigners to push for greater action on climate change. The summit brings together activists, indigenous communities, and other stakeholders to share their experiences and perspectives on the impacts of climate change. The event is expected to provide a platform for the voices of those most affected by climate change to be heard. As the COP30 talks continue, the world waits with bated breath for the outcome. Will the conference deliver the urgent action needed to address the climate crisis, or will it fall short of expectations? Only time will tell.