COP30 Climate Conference Briefing from Belém, Brazil
- Jennifer Somers
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Indigenous people, who have long been excluded from climate talks, have had a palpable presence at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Annual Climate Change Council of Parties (COP 30) in Belém, Brazil, November 10 - 21, where 197 countries and the European Union come together to discuss implementation of their Nationally Determined Commitments (NDC’s) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as required by the Paris Agreement and foster international cooperation on climate change.
Fossil fuel extraction and burning are the root cause of global greenhouse emissions and rising temperatures worldwide. In Brazil, the fossil fuel industry is causing destruction of the Amazon through extraction, deforestation, pollution, social conflict, and threatening the biodiversity of this region known as the “lungs of the world” that is critical to global environmental health. In addition, in 2023 and 2024 the water temperature of the Amazon River rose to dangerously high levels over 40 degrees celsius.
Indigenous-led “mutirão” (Tupi-Guarani term for "collective effort") for climate action happening both inside and outside of COP shined a much needed spotlight on the voices of the protectors of people, planet, homelands and culture. and the solutions that come from the communities on frontlines of the climate crisis.
As Collectrify Governance Assembly member Jacqui Patterson emphasized at the Global Ethical Stocktake: An Ethical Mutirão for Climate Action, the ethical stockade of the climate crisis cannot be measured in parts per million; they must be measured in the stories and of the people in frontline communities. Marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister for the Environment, gave an inspirational speech at the same session to map a path to escape the dependence on fossil fuels and in a way that ensures no one is left behind.
Moral courage in leadership and the insights from The Elders about what is needed to address inequality, create an affordable, renewable future, and the criticality of solving the climate crisis through a community-led effort are described in more detail in our blog post here.
As we know, the elimination of fossil fuels from buildings is a key component of achieving global greenhouse gas reductions (Science Direct). Clean power led by solar provided over 40% of global electricity demand in 2024 (Global Electricity Review 2025) and heat pumps are ready for rapid widespread adoption as alternatives to oil and gas (Climate Strategies). And, through the implementation of Collectrify’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan, we are working to ensure that community-driven equitable building electrification leads to benefits for the most vulnerable communities.
Please check the Collectrify Resources Library as we add resources and next steps post COP 30 which ends this week. At our next Learning Community Collaboratory meeting, we will provide take-aways from our time at the COP and insights on how we continue to advance community-based solutions.
Frontline and indigenous leaders all over the world are doing the critical work to innovate, create new partnerships and advance community-based solutions. We need to listen to their wisdom and resource their work to show us the way forward.
