Speech by João Paulo Capobianco at the closing of COP15 in Campo Grande

Distinguished delegates, esteemed colleagues, dear friends,

It is both an honor and a responsibility to stand before you at the closing of this historic COP.

Four months after Belém, many of you returned to Brazil.

This is not a coincidence.

It is a signal

of trust,

of expectation,

and of a shared conviction that multilateralism still matters.

Over these past days, we have done more than meet.

We have reaffirmed something essential:

Nature does not recognize borders and neither can our commitment to protect it.

And this Convention embodies that truth in a very special way.

This Convention holds a unique place among multilateral agreements.

It reflects a profound sense of shared responsibility one that is, at its core, an expression of altruism in global governance.

Because here, we do not act only for what is ours.

We act for what belongs to no one and therefore, to all.

We protect species that may never remain within our borders.

We invest in a natural heritage we do not own, but are all responsible for.

In doing so, we give concrete meaning to global solidarity recognizing that migratory species transcend nations, jurisdictions, and generations.

This is the spirit of the CMS.

And this is why it matters so profoundly.

From the Pantanal to the Arctic, from the oceans to the savannas, migratory species connect our planet in ways no political map ever could.

They remind us that ecological integrity depends on continuity on flows that must remain alive, uninterrupted, and resilient.

And this is precisely what is at stake.

Connectivity is not an abstract concept.

It is the difference between survival and collapse.

Between ecosystems that function and those that fail.

To protect migratory routes, ecological corridors, and critical habitats is to protect the very fabric of life on Earth.

But let us be clear:

This will not happen by chance.

It demands political will.

It demands coordinated governance.

It demands cooperation at the scale of the challenge.

It demands that we align policies across borders, sectors, and institutions.

That we listen to science not selectively, but decisively.

That we act not only with urgency, but with coherence.

Because science has given us clarity.

Now it is up to us to provide action.

And action, in this Convention, has a name:

Cooperation.

Cooperation between governments.

Between international organizations.

Between science and policy.

Between Indigenous peoples, local communities, and decision-makers.

Because in the end, cooperation is not only about agreements.

It is about trust.

It is about solidarity.

It is about shared responsibility.

It is about recognizing that no country can protect migratory species alone and that every country depends on the others to succeed.

As we conclude this Conference, we do not close a chapter.

We open a mandate.

Over the next three years, Brazil will work to strengthen this Convention expanding its membership, increasing its visibility, and building stronger bridges with other multilateral environmental agreements.

We invite all Member States to join the Pantanal Declaration,

placing wetlands at the center of the global conservation agenda.

And we move forward with a joint initiative among Amazonian countries to align policies, strengthen governance, and protect connectivity across one of the most strategic regions on Earth.

These are not symbolic steps.

They are structural.

Before closing, I must recognize those who made this moment possible:

To the team of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change your dedication turned vision into reality.

To the CMS Secretariat, your guidance has been indispensable.

And to our dear Amy

Your leadership, your passion, and your humanity have left a lasting legacy in this Convention.

We say goodbye with gratitude and with deep respect.

Finally, I congratulate Germany on its successful bid to host COP-16 in 2029.

In its jubilee year, the Convention returns to where it was born renewed, stronger, and more necessary than ever.

Brazil stands ready for a seamless transition.

Dear friends,

What we built here must now move forward with determination.

Because the journeys of migratory species cannot wait.

And neither can we.

João Paulo R. Capobianco

Special Advisory Office for Social Communication of the MMA
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