National leaders, environmentalists, climate activists, and state and local officials from the United States are gathering in Belém, Brazil , next week for the United Nations’s annual climate change conference — better known as COP30.

Tens of thousands of international delegates, indigenous peoples, and other attendees are expected to attend the conference, which will run from Nov. 10 to 21.

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But what exactly is the purpose of the conference, and why are eyes on the U.S. as the summit gets underway? Here’s everything you need to know.

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