COP30 Volunteers Awarded Certificates in Belém

The certification is part of a series of federal and state initiatives in preparation for COP30. Volunteers will focus on public service, mobility, and accessibility

On Tuesday (Sept. 30), about 1,500 participants in the COP30 Volunteer Program were awarded certificates at a ceremony held in the auditorium of the Pará State Court of Justice. The program, a partnership between the federal government and the state government of Pará, brought together people who completed 120 hours of training. The courses covered climate change, tourism, and intercultural communication, as well as operational guidelines for fieldwork. The new volunteers will focus on public service, mobility, and accessibility during the conference.

The program, which opened applications on May 29, received more than 2,300 submissions through its selection platform. Of that total, roughly 1,500 volunteers have already completed their training and are ready to serve, while another group is in the final stages of preparation. The program is expected to certify more than 2,000 volunteers in all.

Flávia Castelhano, Director of Institutional Relations at the Special Secretariat for COP30 (Secop), stressed that planning for the volunteers took into account the areas of greatest circulation and need, ensuring their presence in different parts of the city.

“We mapped the most strategic areas to place volunteers where demand is highest and where there are larger crowds. There will be volunteers in the Blue Zone, the Green Zone, the hotel district where most guests will stay, on ships, and in various other areas. We will also have teams stationed at bus stops included in our mobility plan. The idea is to spread volunteers across the city to assist participants, answer questions, and show how welcoming Belém’s people are,” she said.

On the importance of the COP30 Volunteer Program, Pará’s Vice Governor Hana Ghassan stated: “At this ceremony, we are not just handing out certificates. We are delivering trust, recognition, and, above all, gratitude. Gratitude to each of the volunteers who have chosen to dedicate their time, energy, and heart to serving the world during COP30.”

Voices from the Volunteers

Deíla Maia, Pará’s State Auditor General, who also became certified as a COP30 volunteer, underscored the importance of the training and the unique role volunteers will play in welcoming visitors.

 “As someone born in Belém, it is a great joy, an honor, and a source of pride to be able to make this contribution to the people of our state. I am certain this COP will be a success, and being able to help people from all over the world was my motivation. The training we received was very important, with content on sustainability, climate change, and, above all, the UN Code of Ethics, emphasizing respect for people from diverse cultures. I am confident that not only I, but our entire volunteer team, will be the difference at this COP through our hospitality.”

For Luana Queiroz, a young economist newly certified in the program, the volunteer experience represents both personal growth and professional recognition. “What motivated me to apply as a volunteer is that I already hold a degree in economics. I see this as an important opportunity for learning,” she said.

Translation: Tadeu Azevedo (POET/UFC)
Proofreading: Michel Emmanuel Félix François (POET/UFC)