PRINCIPLE

November 1, 2025

State Department eliminates climate office; US attendance at COP30 is uncertain

State Department eliminates specialized climate team, leaving U.S. participation at landmark summit uncertain

The State Department eliminated its Office of Global Change in April 2025, removing the specialized team that coordinated U.S. positions in international climate talks.

The move, implemented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and tied to President Trump’s January 20, 2025, executive order withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement, has left U.S. participation at COP30 (Belém, Brazil; Nov. 10–21, 2025) unclear. Reporting shows the decision disrupted U.S. climate diplomacy and created uncertainty about whether an official federal delegation will attend, but it does not document an explicit, formal announcement that the United States will send no delegation.

The U.S. State Department announced elimination of the Office of Global Change in April 2025; the change removes the office that historically coordinated U.S. positions in UN climate negotiations.

COP30 is scheduled for Nov. 10–21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil. The UNFCCC calendar and multiple institutional partners list those dates and location.

President Trump signed an order on Jan. 20, 2025, directing withdrawal from the Paris Agreement; news outlets reported the administration’s intention to exit the pact again.

Reporting describes substantial uncertainty about whether the federal government will field an official U.S. delegation to COP30 after the office closure. There is no public, authoritative announcement confirming a total U.S. absence.

🌱Environment🌍Foreign Policy🔐Ethics

People, bills, and sources