For the first time in COP history, this year’s Conference of Parties (COP30) will be held in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, in Belém, Brazil. Unlike previous COPs held in major urban centers, Belém sits at the gateway to one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, yet it is threatened by climate change and human activities like mining.

Will the choice of location define a turning point in climate justice? Deforestation and environmental degradation disproportionately impact indigenous communities and local populations who have historically been the least responsible for the crisis but suffer its worst consequences.

During his first formal address as the incoming leader of COP30 at the U.N. General Assembly on March 5, 2025, in New York, Correa do Lago called for international collaboration at the November summit and emphasized that Brazil is committed to multilateralism and climate action.

“The Amazon is not just Brazil’s responsibility; it’s the world’s lungs,” André Corrêa do Lago said.

According to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, the Amazon stores about 150-200 billion metric tons of carbon, making its protection vital for global climate stability. However, deforestation has surged in recent years, with over 10,000 square kilometers lost in 2023 alone.

The significance of this year’s summit is that in contrast to the past, where negotiations and policy drafts have happened in cities and glass towers far removed from the frontlines of climate actions, here, indigenous leaders who have protected the rainforest for generations will no longer be sidelined. Together with other conservationists, they will showcase real solutions, from community-led reforestation to sustainable farming.

Indigenous territories in the Amazon contain one-third of the region’s carbon stocks and have significantly lower deforestation rates than non-protected areas. According to the former UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights, Mr. José Francisco Calí Tzay, indigenous people are the original climate negotiators as they protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity with less than 5% of the land.

Indigenous leaders have long argued that recognizing their territorial rights is the most effective way to protect the Amazon, yet legal battles and land invasions persist. Consequently, Advocates are calling for binding agreements that will not only secure these lands, but also guarantee fair compensation for conservation efforts.

While President Lula da Silva has pledged to reduce Amazon deforestation to zero by 2030, past administrations have rolled back environmental protections, raising concerns about long-term commitments. Already, Brazil has reduced deforestation rates by over 50% in the past year, a promising sign that stronger enforcement is working.

The $100 billion annual commitment from developed countries, first promised in 2009, remains largely unmet, and Brazil argues that without adequate funding, forest-rich developing nations cannot be expected to carry the burden of global emissions alone. Many indigenous communities act as frontline guardians of biodiversity but receive little to no financial support for their role in preserving ecosystems that benefit the entire planet.

For this year’s COP30 to make a lasting impact, there should be a clear commitment from major emitters like the EU and China to the Climate Fund. Moreover, a stronger framework for climate justice should be established to ensure vulnerable communities get a fair share of climate financing and tangible agreements on deforestation reduction with binding enforcement mechanisms.

Hosting COP30 in the Amazon provides an opportunity for the global community to finally align climate action with those most impacted by environmental destruction, and the actions taken in Belém will have a rippling effect across the globe, defining future climate policies.

Nina Gualinga, Co-founder of Passu Creativa, says, “Indigenous peoples have known for a long time that everything in this life is interconnected. When nature is destroyed in one place, the consequences can be felt on the other side of the world.”