What COP30 Taught Us About Climate Hope

COP30 brought the world to Belém, right at the gateway of the Amazon. It reminded us that climate hope does not grow from negotiation halls. It grows from land, culture, community, and the people who have protected the Amazon long before climate conferences existed.

Here is what this gathering taught us:

Indigenous leadership is the anchor

COP30 saw significant Indigenous participation from across Brazil and the world. Their leadership shaped conversations on land rights, forest protection, biodiversity, and climate justice. They were not a sidebar to the conference. They were the grounding force.

Hope takeaway

When Indigenous sovereignty leads, climate solutions become real.

Civil society showed up in record strength

About 11,000 NGOs, youth networks, gender advocates, research groups, and community organizations registered as observers. Belém became a crossroads for every corner of the movement. Side events, briefings, and cultural gatherings carried as much energy as the official negotiations.

Hope takeaway

The climate movement is big, organized, creative, and growing.

The Amazon had the visibility it deserves

Hosting COP30 in Belém meant that forest health, Indigenous territories, river communities, biodiversity, and regional science were central to the conversation. Researchers, activists, and local organizations used the moment to highlight what is at stake and what is possible.

Hope takeaway

The world cannot talk about the climate crisis without listening to the Amazon.

Oceans shared the spotlight with forests

Civil society groups hosted dozens of events on ocean protection, marine biodiversity, and coastal resilience with the creation of the Task Force on Oceans. Brazil’s coastline and scientific community brought ocean issues forward in a way that complemented forest stewardship, with the creation of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility.

Hope takeaway

Climate hope lives in every ecosystem that communities fight to protect.

Youth leadership is reshaping the conversation

Youth groups from the Amazon, Latin America, the Philippines, and beyond organized panels, cultural actions, and press engagements. Their presence was strategic, coordinated, and rooted in justice.

Hope takeaway

The next generation is not waiting for permission to lead.

Cultural storytelling took center stage

Belém’s cultural heritage was woven throughout the conference. Indigenous art, music, community media, and youth storytelling expanded how the world engages with climate truth.

Hope takeaway

Stories move people faster than policy can.

Where we go from here

ClimateHope.us will continue uplifting the communities and organizations shaping climate action. Explore our Letters from Belém series to read the stories, reflections and perspectives that emerged throughout COP30.

You can also visit our Projects page to see what we are building next, and head to Take Action to learn about organizations doing critical work in the Amazon, across the Philippines, and around the world.

Hope is in motion. We follow it wherever it appears.