Brazil officially launched three weeks of climate-related events in several major cities across the country on Monday, ahead of the COP30 international summit to be held in Belém at the end of the month. This series of initiatives marks a key step for the host country, which aims to present itself as a leader in sustainable development and the energy transition.
The first events are taking place in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Belém, with conferences, exhibitions, and forums dedicated to climate policy, Amazon preservation, and green investment. Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad emphasized the need for a "collective commitment" between governments, businesses, and civil society to achieve carbon neutrality goals.
Many private sector actors used these events to call for fiscal and regulatory incentives to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and the circular economy. According to Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), “Brazil’s ecological transformation could become a model for emerging countries, provided it is accompanied by transparent and inclusive governance.”
However, these preparations are overshadowed by social tensions: several local organizations have planned demonstrations to denounce police repression and the environmental inequalities affecting Amazonian communities. Authorities fear that these mobilizations could disrupt the official gatherings.
COP30, which is due to open in Belém in three weeks, is expected to have slightly lower participation than previous editions, although the presence of many heads of state, scientists and NGO representatives has already been confirmed.
