Eurotopics.net

COP30 begins on Monday in Belém, Brazil. Ahead of the Climate Change Conference, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for stronger measures against climate change. The world had failed to meet its goal of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees C, he said, stressing that every tenth of a degree increase means more hunger, displacement and financial losses. Commentators also emphasise the need for action.

Europe's media are closely following Zohran Mamdani's sweeping victory in the New York mayoral elections. The 34-year-old, who describes himself as a "democratic socialist", has promised free transport on buses, free childcare and rent controls. Commentators see lessons for political parties in Europe.

Chinese fast fashion giant Shein has opened its first brick-and-mortar store worldwide in the renowned Parisian department store BHV. The move caused a storm of indignation as Shein has been accused of ignoring social and environmental standards. Childlike sex dolls were promptly discovered on the company's website, prompting the French government to announce a ban on the platform.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House today to discuss Russian energy supplies. The Hungarian oil company MOL is hoping to be exempted from the latest US sanctions on doing business with the Russian companies Lukoil and Rosneft. Commentators take different views of Orbán's chances of success.

The EU environment ministers have agreed to stick to the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 90 percent compared to 1990 levels by 2040. However, member states can use international carbon credits to account for up to five percent of their reduction targets. Europe's press sees this as a watering down of climate targets, and discusses the outcome with an eye to the COP30 World Climate Conference starting next week in Belém, Brazil.