Why Brazil? A look at the new host of the UN climate summit
By Nidhi Upadhyaya Mon, Feb 24, 2025
One decade ago, the world signed on to the Paris Agreement. Now, in the year that the world has surpassed the global average surface temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius—the very same threshold laid out in the Paris Agreement ten years ago—the expectations for the United Nations Climate Change Conference are phenomenal.
In November 2025, the world will meet in Belém, Brazil at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30). Representatives come from the civil society, the private sector, science, and policy. By bringing these diverse actors together, the conference marks a key moment to make holistic progress. As the most recent host of the G20, a witness to devastating natural disasters, and home to the world’s largest carbon sink, Brazil is well positioned to lead the climate negotiations this year.
Nevertheless, as the world begins to prepare for COP30, the full weight of climate leadership is sinking in. Despite its significant progress and innovative policies, the country remains one of the top emitters and has made recent moves to join the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+). Now, the focus is on Brazil’s leadership—and how the country can translate commitment into action ahead of the summit.
Nature-based solutions for the bioeconomy
Over half of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil. The country’s unparalleled biodiversity marks a unique opportunity to underscore the immediate and widespread benefits to scaled nature-based solutions (NbS). Brazil’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)—that is, its climate action plan under the Paris Agreement—focuses on generating economic growth while conserving ecological diversity. From strengthening its Amazon Fund and the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF) to its efforts to reduce emissions by up to 67 percent by 2035, the country has already made clear signs to signal its own commitments to work at the intersection of climate change and biodiversity.
For decades, climate experts have highlighted the protective benefits of nature-based solutions. However, human activity rapidly destroys the natural resources that can provide a fighting chance to keep global temperatures from rising. In fact, biodiversity and wildlife populations have declined by an estimated 69 percent over the last fifty years. The destruction outpaces scaled benefits nature, putting lives and wildlife at risk.
Now, nature must remain on the agenda at COP30. This past year, Colombia hosted the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16). Like Brazil, the country is home to a large part of the rainforest and increasingly investing in biodiversity. At the summit, 119 countries out of the 196 parties submitted their national biodiversity targets. Additionally, 44 countries submitted National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs), which support the implementation of national targets.
What are nature-based solutions?
Nature-based solutions can not only mitigate the impacts of climate change, but also provide necessary, immediate protections for communities as they adapt to the locked-in consequences.
At COP29, the Atlantic Council’s Climate Resilience Center launched a new report, Greening private finance for nature-based solutions. Our team worked with the Climate Champions to explore financial models for nature-based solutions in different contexts. The case studies explore how these initiatives were developed to target communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
As the world counts down to COP30, the negotiations in Brazil can build on the work laid out at COP16. When the country hosted the G20 last year, one of their priority areas was bioeconomy. Essentially, it is the part of the economy that uses biological resources to generate economic growth. When talking about climate, the conversation focuses on how to advance economies while preserving nature rather than exploiting it. By fostering industries like sustainable agroforestry, medicinal plant harvesting, and eco-tourism, Brazil demonstrates that conservation and economic prosperity are not mutually exclusive but rather interdependent.
Opportunities for Brazil in the countdown to COP30
At the last COP, countries agreed to set a $1.3 trillion goal for climate finance. These negotiations were challenging, making COP29 the fourth longest summit as it ran more than thirty hours over schedule. Eventually, an agreement on climate finance was set at $300 billion annually. Notably, while it falls short of developing countries’ original ask, the parties agreed to triple the current finance commitments. Beyond the $300 billion target, they also set a goal to scale public and private finance flows to $1.3 trillion annually. However, the plans to achieve that same goal are still unclear.
At a time when political priorities for climate are uncertain, the private sector must step up. Their climate investments are not just beneficial to economies and communities. They will also allow them to survive through disruptive periods. Investing in climate adaptation is a clear and immediate opportunity; and the cost of inaction is rising even more rapidly. The underfinancing of climate action, especially adaptation, presents systemic risks to global economic stability, particularly for climate-vulnerable nations.
Over the last few years, the global private finance sector has spearheaded solutions for climate adaptation. The sector has not only advanced the development of tools, monitoring frameworks, and products but also the very dynamic approach of mobilizing investments by guiding their clients towards resilience opportunities.
Brazil, the host of this year’s COP30, has recent experience with climate-related disasters—from record-breaking droughts to catastrophic floods. These devastating impacts have underscored the need for stronger climate resilience policies and investments by the private sector. Its private financial sector has rapidly prioritized adaptation. Additionally, a significant portion of climate finance comes from private resources directed by public policies, like Plano Safra and the National Policy for Biofuels. By advocating for financial mechanisms like improved infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and early warning systems, Brazil can drive the climate action agenda.
At stake? One decade of climate commitments
As the Paris Agreement marks its tenth anniversary, COP30 will serve as a moment of reckoning for global climate commitments. Countries are expected to assess their progress toward limiting global warming. As they revisit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the summit in Brazil marks the moment to determine if they are on track to maintain the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold.
In the countdown to COP30, the world’s eyes are on Belém on the heels of the hottest year on record. At this critical juncture, the discussions and negotiations at COP30 should prioritize investments for climate adaptation. The summit must allow the private financial sector to play a bigger role and elevate the focus on nature-based solutions.
The world will look to Brazil for leadership, innovation, and commitment in these areas. As the host, the country is well positioned to drive these conversations forward because it has prioritized these actions at the national level. While the true impact of COP30 is yet to be seen, Brazil has the capacity to engage in a way that ensures that climate action benefits all sectors of society, including indigenous communities and vulnerable populations. It can set the course for a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future.
This article is part of our path to COP30 campaign. Our team and expert partners are sharing articles and research to deepen your understanding of the significance of this year’s UN climate conference. You can explore evidence-based analysis and policy insights that can drive change before the world gathers in Belém, Brazil.
