Young EcoLeaders of the Brazilian Rainforest

Dear donors,

We hope you are doing well and wanted to let you know that the Iracambi team has just come back from the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30) in Belém, where we joined 50,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries to work on some of the most urgent issues of our time!

It was a highly eventful conference, held, for the first time, in the Global South, in Belém: the gateway to the Amazon.

Over the course of two weeks, we had the opportunity to take a deep dive into the issues facing not only the gigantic Amazon forest, but also the oceans, wetlands, savannas, glaciers, mountains, and small island states on all the continents on the planet.

We mingled with government negotiators, youth delegations, indigenous people, non- government organizations, corporates, foundations, scientists, religious leaders, artists, financiers and people of all ages and all professions. Each one with a story to tell, a solution to offer: all united in a common cause - to work on the challenges that face us as the people of the earth. We participated in debates, panel events, and a podcast, showcased our work in forest restoration and education, and listened and learned from colleagues from many countries and cultures.

Together we walked for miles under the hot sun, marched for the climate, experienced torrential downpours and traffic jams, demonstrations and even a fire which was speedily contained but delayed the final negotiations. We didn’t get everything we wanted. But, ten years after the Paris Accord, substantial progress was made, and it was a privilege to be part of it.

We return home with a new sense of urgency and shared purpose. There is much work ahead, but, in the spirit of "mutirão"- working together - we will get it done. Because we can. Because we must.

Thank you for your support. We are in this together!  

Links:

• Website of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change