As delegations convene in the Amazon this week, the world faces a sobering milestone. Ten years have passed since the Paris Agreement was signed, and ten remain until its 2035 goals expire. Representatives from 198 nations, joined by scientists and activists, have descended on Belém to assess progress and chart a path forward.

The verdict so far is grim. Greenhouse-gas emissions are still climbing, and last year the planet’s average temperature crept past the 1.5°C mark above pre-industrial levels. The breach may be brief, but it underscores how little room remains before the world drifts into uncharted territory.

Already, billions are living on the front lines of climate disruption. Droughts, floods, and searing heat have deepened food insecurity, displaced communities, and strained health systems. The years 2024 and 2025 rank among the hottest ever recorded, testing crops, power networks, and political resolve alike.

COP30 offers a moment of reflection as much as negotiation, a halfway point in the struggle to contain global warming. Whether the promises made in the Amazon can match the scale of the crisis will determine not just the next decade, but the livability of the century.