Leaders sign declaration on hunger, poverty, and people-centered climate action

The goal is to promote actions that address the unequal ways climate change affects populations worldwide, particularly the most vulnerable. A total of 44 parties signed the document.

On Friday, November 7, during the Belém Climate Summit, leaders from 43 countries and the European Union signed the Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty, and People-Centered Climate Action. The document highlights the fact that the effects of climate change are already severely impacting populations, especially the most vulnerable, and was endorsed by 44 parties.

"Climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss are worsening hunger, poverty, and food insecurity. They are also compromising access to water, deteriorating health indicators, and increasing mortality rates. These issues are deepening inequalities and threatening livelihoods, with a disproportionate impact on those already living in poverty or vulnerability," states the text.

In response, the declaration recommends that countries continue investing in mitigation, while giving greater priority to adaptation—particularly human-centered measures such as social protection, crop insurance, and other instruments that strengthen community resilience.

Additionally, the document calls for climate finance to focus on projects that generate opportunities, jobs, and livelihoods for smallholder farmers, traditional communities, and forest peoples. Investments should be designed to promote a just energy transition for these populations.

To monitor countries’ progress under the agreed terms, the text proposes eight measurable goals across the covered areas. Among them are increasing social protection coverage by 2% per year and expanding the number of countries capable of assessing and anticipating short- and long-term climate vulnerabilities.

The declaration was announced during the closing session of the Belém Climate Summit. The moment is especially significant, coming just four days after the first meeting of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty leaders in Doha, Qatar—an international commitment proposed by Brazil’s G20 presidency in 2024.

English version: Trad. Bárbara Menezes
Proofreading by Enrique Villamil