COP30 in Belém: Why a New Conservation Model Matters for the Amazon |
At COP30, debates over shrinking public funding highlighted why projects such as Mejuruá matter as credible, community-based models for Amazon conservation.
Thousands gathered in a sweltering tent city in Belém for COP30, where the air-conditioning failed almost as often as the climate pledges. Enterprising vendors quickly debuted a “COP30” ice cream—cupuaçu, Brazil nut, and a dash of pistachio—a surprisingly good mix drawn from the rainforest itself.
The flavor became its own quiet metaphor: progress on environmental issues will require balancing unlikely ingredients to meet the current geopolitical mood. And in the humid tents of COP30, one truth stood out—every green struggle is linked, and real conversation remains the only thing that doesn’t melt under pressure.
Calls to Streamline Global Environmental COPs
Indeed, there is a small but growing movement to link the various COPs on environmental issues, perhaps into a single annual conference. However, such an undertaking would likely limit the number of cities that could host COP30. Belém certainly struggled to host COP30.
Public financing for conservation is shrinking across continents, yet expectations for environmental leadership are rising. This is not to say programs like the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) were not a major part of the discussion, but just one.
Private Capital Is Stepping in as Governments Step Back
We must not forget that new approaches are needed, and COP30 made clear, with the absence and scaled-back presence of major governments, that private-sector initiatives are reshaping how climate action is funded. The Amazon—the symbolic heart of biodiversity—reflects how such projects must have strong social-community links.
One such project was the Indigenous Amazon Outcome Bond, which received