World leaders meet Thursday in the Brazilian Amazon in an effort to show that climate change remains a top global priority despite broken promises and the United States shunning the gathering.

About 50 heads of state and government are expected in the rainforest city of Belem for a summit on Thursday and Friday ahead of the annual UN Conference of Parties (COP) climate negotiations that open next week.

Almost every nation is participating, but Washington is sending nobody, with President Donald Trump having branded climate science a "con job."

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected in Belem but other major economies, including China and India, are sending deputies or climate ministers.

The choice of Belem, a city of 1.4 million people, half of

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