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CIVIL SOCIETY

“COP30 can be an important symbol that multilateralism is alive”, says the COP30 CEO in a meeting with civil society

Ana Toni, COP30 CEO, and Brazilian ambassador Lilian Chagas received representatives of social movements at the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change(Ministério do Meio Ambiente e Mudança do Clima/ MMA) to hear their requests and proposals concerning the Conference.

Published on Apr 17, 2025 2:52 PM - Modified 8 days ago

By Franciéli Barcellos de Moraes / francieli.moraes@presidencia.gov.br

On Wednesday, 16 April (after rounds of sectoral meetings with indigenous peoples, women's movements, and the black movement), the COP30 Executive Secretary welcomed representatives from a wide range of civil society organizations—both online and in person— to MMA for an opportunity to hear proposals and clarify doubts about the conference's dynamics. The meeting is another stage in the process of building the agenda for COP30.

 “"We hope and believe that COP30 can be an important symbol that multilateralism is alive - and that it's the only way to deal with climate change."

On the occasion, the COP30 CEO, Ana Toni, outlined the project launched by the United Nations (UN) and the Presidency of Brasil, in the figures of Secretary-General António Guterres and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, respectively, to receive proposals for the agenda to tackle climate change from different people worldwide. “It's a process, it's still being outlined, but there will be events in different regions of the planet, including scientists, artists, religious leaders, so that we can look at some of the negotiating issues through these other languages,” she said.

Ana Toni also stressed the importance of the COP in Brasil as a moment to affirm consensual climate ambitions, but also multilateralism, as a factor in achieving climate goals. "We hope and believe that COP30 can be an important symbol that multilateralism is alive - and that it's the only way to deal with climate change. It's a very strong message that has to come out of the COP, and that civil society has much to help," said the CEO.

Ambassador Lilian Chagas, director of the Climate Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministério das Relações Exteriores/MRE), who since COP28 has acted as Brasil's chief negotiator, also joined in and emphasized Brasil's efforts to bring the Conference closer to civil society. “Brasil is proposing a different COP, a multidimensional one, with results and outcomes beyond the traditional multilateral negotiations,” she said.

Civil society input

"We know that the COP is an international event, and all the issues that come with it, but it needs to leave a legacy of participation, especially in Brasil. Here we have this responsibility, to leave a legacy of participation, a legacy of civil society organization, and of ever greater qualification in these debates that are extremely important in environmental matters,“ explained Iury Paulino, from the national coordination of the Movement of Dam-Affected People (Movimento de Atingidos por Barragem/MAB).
"We know that the COP is an international event, and all the issues that come with it, but it needs to leave a legacy of participation, especially in Brasil. Here we have this responsibility, to leave a legacy of participation, a legacy of civil society organization, and of ever greater qualification in these debates that are extremely important in environmental matters,“ explained Iury Paulino, from the national coordination of the Movement of Dam-Affected People (Movimento de Atingidos por Barragem/MAB).
"We have high expectations that the Brazilian government will announce implementation proposals in line with the importance of the just transition work program. And more than that, that it's a COP whose principle is the defense of democracy, a matter of great importance worldwide. I stress the importance of social dialogue to define the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with the effective social participation of the working class, of the unions,“ said Tali Pires de Almeida, advisor to the National Environment Secretariat of the Unified Workers' Center (Central Única dos Trabalhadores/CUT).
"We have high expectations that the Brazilian government will announce implementation proposals in line with the importance of the just transition work program. And more than that, that it's a COP whose principle is the defense of democracy, a matter of great importance worldwide. I stress the importance of social dialogue to define the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with the effective social participation of the working class, of the unions,“ said Tali Pires de Almeida, advisor to the National Environment Secretariat of the Unified Workers' Center (Central Única dos Trabalhadores/CUT).
"I think it's important to include in this discussion the people who will be in Seville, Spain, in June for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. I think the road to Belém goes through Seville. One week after Bonn, Germany, we will have this conference, and it is inevitable that we will also discuss climate financing there. I propose a Baku-Seville-Belém route," suggested Henrique Frota, Executive Director of the Brazilian Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (Associação Brasileira Organizações Não Governamentais/ABONG).
"I think it's important to include in this discussion the people who will be in Seville, Spain, in June for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. I think the road to Belém goes through Seville. One week after Bonn, Germany, we will have this conference, and it is inevitable that we will also discuss climate financing there. I propose a Baku-Seville-Belém route," suggested Henrique Frota, Executive Director of the Brazilian Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (Associação Brasileira Organizações Não Governamentais/ABONG).

The Homeless Workers' Movement (Movimento de Trabalhadores Sem-Teto/MTST), the Landless Rural Workers' Movement (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra/MST), the Group of Institutes, Foundations and Enterprises (Grupo de Institutos Fundações e Empresa/GIFE), he Climate Observatory (Observatório do Clima/OC) and the Brazilian Forum of NGOs and Social Movements for the Environment and Development (Movimentos Sociais para o Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento/FBOMS) were some of the other organizations present at the gathering.

English Version: Trad. Bárbara Menezes

Proofreading by Enrique Villamil

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