COP 30 Amazônia

COP30 in the Amazon: the “COP of truth” between hopes and contradictions

The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) has commenced in Belém, at the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. This marks the first time a global climate summit is hosted within the world’s largest tropical forest. The location is more than symbolic—it is a powerful call to safeguard forests and to fundamentally rethink the connections between nature, the economy, and climate justice.

The Belém meeting has been called the “COP of truth” by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This event takes place amid widespread international frustration, following the failure to meet the targets established by the 2015 Paris Agreement. A decade after that landmark accord, global warming remains unchecked: emissions are still increasing, investments in fossil fuels remain substantial, and although renewable energy is growing, it is not advancing rapidly enough to change the course.

The COP in Belém unfolds amid a challenging political landscape, marked by reduced attendance from heads of state compared to previous years. Numerous world leaders, preoccupied with domestic concerns or conflicts, have opted not to participate. This trend is concerning, highlighting that despite widespread acknowledgment of the climate crisis’s urgency, it remains difficult to elevate it to a top global political priority.

In his inaugural speech, Lula spoke with candor. He denounced climate change deniers, accusing them of promoting a dangerous obscurantism that threatens our shared future, and urged the international community to take decisive action. “It is unacceptable,” he declared, “that the world pours vast sums into arms production while neglecting to allocate sufficient resources to safeguard the planet.” He advocated for “ethical finance” that channels capital into environmental protection and sustainable development initiatives, rather than funding industries that perpetuate war and devastation.

Yet, the gap between words and actions remains wide. The decade since Paris has seen unfulfilled promises, postponed goals, and a slow energy transition. The expansion of renewable energy sources is still insufficient, while the consumption of coal, oil, and gas continues to grow in many countries. The scientific community warns that we are already beyond the climate safety threshold, but global politics still seems anchored to short-term logic.

TROPICAL FOREST FOREVER

One of the most talked-about and potentially groundbreaking initiatives at the conference is the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), championed and strongly backed by Brazil. This fund proposes a new financing model for forest conservation, relying on a blend of public and private investments to guarantee consistent payments to countries that maintain low deforestation rates. The goal is to transform forest protection into an economically viable activity, rewarding those who preserve forests rather than those who exploit them.

The project has garnered support from more than fifty countries and has already secured commitments totaling around 5.5 billion dollars. Initially, coordination will be led by the World Bank, aiming to mobilize up to 125 billion dollars in the coming years. This ambitious initiative could represent a paradigm shift in climate finance. However, concerns remain: the potential for financial market interests to overshadow environmental goals, the necessity for transparent monitoring systems, and the vulnerability to international economic fluctuations.

Among the countries yet to join the fund is Italy, a decision that sparks disappointment and concern. As the protection of tropical forests becomes a key measure of industrialized nations’ climate commitment, Italy’s absence stands out as a missed opportunity. This is compounded by a national policy still heavily focused on biofuels, which often drive the conversion of forests and natural habitats into intensive agricultural land, exacerbating the problem rather than addressing it.

The focus on tropical forests is no accident. They are one of the fundamental pillars of the Earth’s climate system: they absorb billions of tons of CO₂, host the majority of the world’s biodiversity, and provide life and sustenance for millions of people. It is therefore not surprising that alongside major diplomatic debates, there is also a strong civil movement that has been working for years to protect them.

Among these organizations is Foreste per Sempre ODV, which has been dedicated to protecting tropical forests since the 1990s, with projects in Costa Rica, the Amazon, and Madagascar. “Forests Forever” is not only the name of the new fund proposed in Belém but also the enduring motto that drives the association’s work, reflecting a seamless unity of vision and action. Long before international discussions took shape, the association championed payments for environmental services (PES) programs starting in the early 2000s—a model that today evolves naturally into the TFFF.

COP30 in Belém is more than just a technical conference. It represents a crucial turning point for humanity—a challenge to the global community to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action, recognizing tropical forests not merely as resources to be exploited, but as essential to the survival of our planet.