Letters from Belém

As COP30 comes to a close, the most powerful guidance is not in the final declarations but in the voices of the people who refuse to let the world look away. From Indigenous guardians in Belém to the Peoples’ Summit calling for an end to extractivism and true justice for Mother Nature, this letter reflects on the legacy we choose to carry forward. Hope is not a mood. It is a practice.

As COP30 nations pledged new ocean protections in Belém, two powerful typhoons were reshaping our coastlines back home. The sea is sending signals, and they are getting louder. This letter reflects on what the ocean remembers, what leaders promised, and the deeper climate commitments still missing from the conversation.

At COP30, hundreds of Indigenous Brazilians marched to the conference gates with songs, drums, and the full weight of ancestral knowledge. Their presence paused negotiations and reminded the world that climate justice begins with the people who protect the land. This letter reflects on that powerful moment in Belém and the courage that continues to guide the path forward.

We’re tuning in to COP30 from the islands with muddy feet and hopeful hearts. Climate negotiations aren’t abstract — they ripple straight into our rivers, farms, and futures. So while the world meets in Belém, we’re writing from afar — a series of small letters carried by wind, wi-fi, and one very opinionated corgi. These reflections are our way of staying connected, staying awake, and staying tender as the world decides what comes next.